Sport

Premier League thoughts to one side for Republic of Ireland's Shane Duffy

Shane Duffy (right) is focusing on Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Austria before turning his attention to the Premier League with promoted Brighton
Shane Duffy (right) is focusing on Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Austria before turning his attention to the Premier League with promoted Brighton Shane Duffy (right) is focusing on Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Austria before turning his attention to the Premier League with promoted Brighton

SHANE Duffy will put his Premier League dream on hold as he attempts to help the Republic of Ireland move a step closer to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The 25-year-old Brighton defender was a frustrated by-stander as Chris Hughton's men clinched promotion from the Sky Bet Championship after fracturing a metatarsal which kept him out of the final 11 games of the campaign.

He finally returned to action for his country in a 3-1 friendly defeat by Mexico in New Jersey during the early hours of yesterday morning, but while he has the excitement of life in the top flight to look forward, his immediate focus is on Ireland's qualifier with Austria on June 11.

Duffy said: "They are exciting times. It's hard to put it to one side, but I have got important games coming up here now with Ireland, that's all my focus now.

"My main focus was just trying to get fit for these and I have and now that I'm fit, I want to be a part of it.

"When it's done, I can focus on what's happening next year with the Premier League and have a good crack at it."

Duffy's injury woe could hardly have struck at a worse time as it ruled him out of Ireland's crucial qualifier against Wales – the sides drew 0-0 in Dublin on March 24 in his absence – and his club's ultimately unsuccessful challenge to add the Championship title to their hard-earned promotion.

The Derryman, who made five Premier League appearances for former club Everton, said: "Obviously the timing of it wasn't great for me.

"I was playing good football – I was playing some of the best I have played – and obviously one of the biggest games in the group, I have missed and promotion to the Premier League, I have missed that run-in, so it was difficult.

"But mentally, I've got a good family around me and got a good physio for the rehab and I have been back. I could have played the last couple of games of the season, but I didn't risk it.

"I just got training in and my fitness is good now. Obviously, I was aiming to try to get fit for Austria."

Duffy got the full 90 minutes under his belt at the MetLife Stadium as manager Martin O'Neill experimented with a youthful line-up and a three-man defence and saw the Mexicans exploit the Republic's teething problems in clinical fashion.

He said: "Obviously you don't want to lose the game and it was a disappointing night result-wise, but for me, I am delighted. 90 minutes, I felt good.

"My fitness was actually better than I thought it might have been. I felt good. It's another step to where I want to be. It's the road you have to take when you are out for so long."

Duffy will hope for another run-out against Uruguay at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday to put himself in the frame for the Austria game as reinforcements join up with the squad back in Ireland.

However, he may have to put up with more ribbing from team-mate Daryl Murphy, whose Newcastle pipped Brighton to the title on a dramatic final day.

Duffy said with a smile: "He gave me a little bit about it, but I just said it wasn't my fault."