Mick McCarthy hailed Shane Duffy as a ‘leader’ and declared: “He’s just my type of player".
But the Republic of Ireland boss reckons the Derryman will have his work cut out trying to deny Manchester City back-to-back titles today.
Brighton’s newly crowned Player of the Year will be tasked with keeping City’s lethal strike force at bay.
Duffy this week insisted that Brighton can cause an upset and open the door for Liverpool to sink Pep Guardiola’s charges on a potentially thrilling final day.
But his season won’t end here as Duffy will be central to Ireland’s plans when next month’s crunch Euro 2020 qualifiers against Denmark and Gibraltar roll around.
McCarthy said: “As a defender, when your team is having a tough old time, you’re generally playing better because you’re involved more.
“You have to make blocks, clear your headers, make tackles. He got Player of the Year and I’m not surprised.
“If you’re playing in a team having to defend, it’s great as a defender providing you’re doing it well.”
McCarthy - a centre-back himself - continued: “He’s just my type of player. He just gets on with it. No nonsense and he’s great in both boxes.
“He clears everything in his own box, he’s a threat in the other and in the short time I had with him in March, I thought he’s a leader around the place.
“Other players look up to him in terms of stature and what he does and how he does it.”
McCarthy recalls watching Duffy play for Everton against Tottenham a few years ago and was struck by how raw he was.
“Like all young centre-halves, you have your moments and he did not quite have the same physical stature he has now,” he said.
“You try win things you shouldn’t try and you do rash things. He has really matured into a very good centre half – he was good then but he has matured into a top one.”
But McCarthy laughed when asked how Duffy goes about containing Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus today.
“Good luck with that one,” he said. “The hard ones are always the ones who pull off your shoulder, not the ones that want to fight you physically.
“Why would a forward want to do that against Shane Duffy?
“The ones who run off his shoulder, run across him, all that stuff, drop into holes, get away from him, City have those type of forwards and that gives you brainache.”
A former Manchester City player, McCarthy expects his old club to beat Brighton and clinch the title.
While Liverpool have gone toe to toe throughout the season, McCarthy sided with City a long way out.
“I haven’t seen them slipping up for a long time and don’t see it happening now,” said the Ireland manager.
“Liverpool had the lead but let City get back in front and really top teams when they get back in front, they don’t give it away.
“It’s like Tiger Woods in the Masters. Once he got there, he ain’t giving it up, no chance.”
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