DUFFY’S TICKLED PINK BY SHOCK NATIONAL CALL

DUNDEE striker Michael Duffy admits he thought it was a mistake when he received his first call-up to the Northern Ireland squad this week. The 22-year-old, currently on loan at Dens Park from Celtic, has been promoted from the Under-21s ahead of next weekend’s World Cup qualifying opener in the Czech Republic. But he couldn’t quite believe Michael O’Neill was ready to draft him in so quickly to the team who punched above their weight at this summer’s Euro finals in France. ‘When I got the email it was a total shock,’ said Duffy ahead of today’s Premiership trip to Motherwell. ‘I couldn’t believe it at first. I had to read it a few times just to make sure it was the right one. ‘I find it incredible that I might be involved in trying to qualify for a World Cup. ‘All I can do is go away next week and do my best. I doubt I’ll get in the team straight away, you can’t expect to do that because of how well everyone is doing. ‘But I’ll try to impress, show the manager what I can do and hopefully keep in his thoughts for further down the line.’ Duffy is focused on today’s trip to Fir Park and, having missed last Friday night’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Hamilton, is desperate to help his side bounce back in Lanarkshire. Motherwell boss Mark McGhee has been impressed with the way Dundee have coped with the loss of Kane Hemmings and Greg Stewart, who were sold to Oxford United and Birmingham City respectively. McGhee said: ‘When you lose two players like that, I thought they were going to struggle but they haven’t. They have held their own so credit to them. ‘I saw them the other night and to say they were creative is probably an understatement.’