Shane Duffy delighted to be at Burnley FC

LOAN defender Shane Duffy hopes his spell with Burnley will be mutually beneficial.

The 19-year-old Everton centre back joined the Clarets for an initial 28 days as the emergency loan window closed last Thursday.

And after featuring in the second half as the Republic of Ireland Under 21s went down 2-0 in Portugal on Friday, he linked up with his new teammates this week, ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Ipswich to Turf Moor.

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Duffy is eager to add to his two first team appearances with the Toffees, both in the Europa League, while helping the Clarets achieve their goal of a play-off place.

The Derry-born youngster said: “I was away on international duty and got a call to say Burnley wanted to take me on loan, so I was delighted.

“It’s about trying to improve myself, get some experience and obviously try and help the team.

“It’s a big club and I’m delighted to be here.

“Looking at the league table and where the team is, obviously they are going for promotion hopefully I can help and we can go on and get into the play-offs.”

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At Goodison, his way to the first team has been barred by the likes of Sylvain Distin, John Heitinga and Phil Jagielka, and Duffy - who was on the bench as Burnley beat Everton 1-0 in the Premier League at Turf Moor in August 2009 - added: “At Everton there are world-class centre-halves there ahead of me so it’s difficult, but I am learning off the best and I’m delighted to be here.

“It would be great if I could play here and help keep some clean sheets.”

Boss Eddie Howe said last week: “The important thing is improving the squad. I won’t just bring players in for the sake of it, it’s a case of finding players that will improve the squad.”

On that basis, Duffy comes into contention to face the Tractor Boys, and Howe said: “He’s settled in very well.

“He has a fantastic attitude and is clearly talented.

“He joined us from Monday so he’s trained well.

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“Although he’s young, he’s a talented boy, he’s a great size and attacks the ball really well in the air in both boxes.

“As I said when we took him, he’s going to come into contention to play, but also with half an eye on next year.”

Duffy has enjoyed his first week, and is hoping to get some action at the end of it: “I loved the first day of training, it was a tough day but it was good, I’m enjoying it.

“I’m ready now so hopefully I can do what I do and show Everton that I’m good enough to play, and obviously for Burnley.

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“I’m going to have to improve myself now and hopefully I can do well.

“I’ve got to work hard in training all week and hopefully I can impress and get in the team.”

He underwent emergency life-saving surgery in May last year after rupturing the blood supply to his liver in a freak accident in a match between the Republic of Ireland development squad and the Ireland amateur side, in a collision with keeper Adrian Walsh.

He looked back: It was just one of those collisions that happens in football, and it ended up bad and my liver just got cut open a bit and I lost two thirds of my blood.

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“I asked the doctors soon as I woke up, but I don’t really know what happened at all, I woke up a couple of days after, but I’m glad to be back now and I cant wait to get started.

“You have to look at things differently, you have to just enjoy every minute of it and hopefully just see how it goes.

“It has been tough, the first six months were very tough, I just didn’t have enough energy because I lost so much weight, but I’m back now and I can’t wait to get going.”