I can score in every game, says Duffy
● Celtic loanee is desperate to play at Parkhead in front of packed-out stands
Shane Duffy has claimed he is capable of netting in every Celtic outing because of the territorial domination the Scottish champions tend to enjoy.
The 6 ft 5 in central defender has netted two headed goals in two games since his loan move from Brighton – where he scored just twice in the previous 18 months.
He nodded home a freekick from Ryan Christie in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over St Mirren after soaring to power in a Callum Mcgreg or corner against Ross County last weekend.
“Personally, I think that I can score in every game if I get the chances. Celtic get a lot more free-kicks and corners than the other teams I’ve played for, so that gives me the opportunity to compete in the box and get my head on the ball,” said Duffy, whose stints with Brighton, Blackburn Rovers, Yeovil, Scunthorpe, Burnley and Ever ton yielded 17 goals.
“S coring isn’t the main thing I concentrate on– that’s keeping clean sheets and winning games but scoring is apart of my game I’ve always wanted to improve. I should have scored many more goals in my career but I’ve missed a lot of chances. I want to convert more but I’ve just got to keep at it and keep getting into the right positions.”
However much Shane Duffy immerses himself in all things Celtic in this year with the club a this very core, however successful the Derry man may prove to be, he knows the Covid-19 age could still leave him bereft.
The ban on large gatherings necessitated by a global pandemic that is on the rise once more has the capacity to deny the season-long loanee from Brighton the opportunity to play in front of a support desperate to hail a Republic of Ireland captain they adore for being one of their own.
The 28- year-old can see only one possible solution if the virus, God forbid, is not quelled across the next eight months. “I might just have to come back,” he joked of how he would be left feeling if fans remain denied access to games throughout the season.
Duffy has never ruled out staying beyond his loan period but he is offering up invo - cations that he doesn’t require to sign permanently to sample the crackling atmospheres Celtic have traditionally performed in wherever they have played .“I haven’ t been able to experience the full thing yet through a full stadium or even a packed-out away end,” he said. “It’s a real disappointment for me obviously, but that’s just the world we live in now.
“I’ m hoping all this madness goes away and I can really enjoy Celtic Park as the special place that it is. I’m hop - ing and praying all this will be done before the end of the season.”
Duffy hopes that by then he will have claimed the first four winners’ medals of his 11-year career, with two Scottish Cups to be settled because of the curtailment of last season.
Yet in joining a club on a record run of 11 straight domestic successes – never mind a club chasing an historic tenth straight title – he refuses to get hung up on the fact the only way is down for his Celtic team compared to those from the past three faultless seasons.
“My mentality is that I don’t think like that at all, I’m quite a positive guy,” Duffy said. “I have a winning mentality where I’m coming in to try to improve the squad, and not lose it. It hasn’t come into my head at all. Obviously that would be a worst ca se scenario and it would be a nightmare really. But that’s what I’m thinking about. I’m here to be a success.”
Much as it will surprise Gary Breen to hear, the 35-times capped Irish international is also in Scotland to progress his game and career. Duffy has no interest in getting into a slagging match with the former Republic midfielder over his assessment that the Celtic loanee would develop “bad habits” that would threaten his place for his nation by playing
in a two-bit league… to slightly paraphrase.
Not least because B re en has been compliment ary about him in the past, Duffy pointed out. He feels, though, that Breen is certainly off beam.
“That’s his opinion but obviously he doesn’t really know me personally or he’d know I’m not the kind of player who would drop his standards. Playing for a club like Celtic you can’t drop your standards or you don’t play and you don’t win leagues.
“So I think it’s been a great move for me. Coming up here will help me push on and improve my game more than anything.
“Down south I would be sitting deep and digging in. But I’m getting on the ball quite a bit now and defending higher up the pitch. If I can add that to my game I’m hoping it’s going to make me a better player, not pick up bad habits.”
Republic manager Stephen Kenny is certainly comfortable with the switch having spoken to his captain favourably about it.
“He was delighted because he knows it’s a different kind of game up here,” said Duffy about his conversation with the former Dunfermline manager.
“Rather than sitting deep and trying to defend a lot I’m going to be on the ball and defending a high line. It’s better for my game to learn these things and add to my game and also get the mentality of winning games every week. So he was delighted.”
“I’m getting on the ball quite a bit now and defending higher up the pitch. I’m hoping it’s going to make me a better player, not pick up bad habits”
SHANE DUFFY