Shane Duffy has pledged to return to form next season - and put the nightmare of the past year at Celtic behind him.
The Ireland defender signed off last night with a man of the match performance in Ireland’s scoreless draw with Hungary in Budapest.
Next up is a summer holiday - and then it’s back to pre-season at Brighton, where he is determined to win back his place with the Premier League side.
Paying tribute to the faith shown by Stephen Kenny, he said: “It’s always tough when you go through a tough spell and I think most footballers do in some part of their career.
“I’ve gone through it, I’ve got a great manager here who trusts me.
“I’ve got no complaints about not playing in the team. I’ve tried to play my role, I’ve tried to help the younger lads.
“I haven’t been playing football, so I have total belief and thanks to the manager for giving me a game first and foremost.
“I enjoyed it again, I sort of forgot what it felt like to play football.
“Hopefully that’s the bad bit over and a little rest and I’m ready to be back next season, kick on and show everyone how good I am.”
Duffy reckons the tactical switches made by Kenny between the Andorra and Hungary games, and the changes in personnel, will help the side going into September’s World Cup qualifiers.
“We’ve worked on it since the first game we came in. The gaffer’s been really flexible. He is trying things,” said the experienced centre-half.
“Everyone can see, we are trying things with different players, different formations, to be ready for the games in September.
“Hopefully it was a positive performance. We wanted to play better in the first-half, we were a bit sloppy at times, but we had big chances.
"But they [Hungary] are a good side, they are going to the Euros and we wish them all the best.”
He was impressed by the performances of both goalkeepers - Gavin Bazunu and Caoimin Kelleher - and added that they wouldn’t be the only options available to Kenny against Portugal in September.
“We are blessed with them,” he said. “And Travs [Mark Travers] there as well and [Darren] Randolph at home.
“So we are really blessed in that position, we can trust every one of them. I’m happy I’m not the manager who’s picking it.”
He continued: “[Last night] was an important game for Ireland of course, every game is.
“But I’m delighted to be back playing football again and another positive result I think, keep building the process and keep believing in it.
“It’s another game unbeaten. So we’re just trying to build on it.”
