Everton player finally over his near death experience
Everton defender Shane Duffy, who is on-loan at Yeovil Town at the Championship claims that his near death experience on the football pitch has been on his mind for the last four years and been affecting his game, but having a full season under his belt has helped him mentally.
Four years ago he was brought into the Republic of Ireland squad and suffered a collision with goalie Adrian Walsh which caused severe lacerations to his liver and it was only the expertise of Irish team doctor and team surgeon Alan Byrne and Professor John O’Byrne who helped stop internal bleeding which in turn saved the big defenders life.
The tall defender has been enjoying a fine campaign at Yeovil Town and he believes he is finally over the mental hurdle, he said: “I wasn’t the same afterwards. I struggled for form and it was only this season when I started to play alright again. I don’t know what was happening to me mentally, but basically when I went onto the pitch, it came down to bravery. I was still brave, but not as brave as before…Mentally I was cautious. There was something in my head. And it affected my performances. Now I don’t think about the injury at all whenever I play.”
“I believe I’m good enough to force my way in there. This is the first time I have got a full season in the Championship you always have hope. If it doesn’t work out at Everton, it will happen for me somewhere else. But I want to give it a go, to test myself and if I’m not good enough, I will hold my hands up and step away.”
Following a decent season on loan at Yeovil Town, do you think Duffy can make it at Everton? Comment below or have your say on our forum here at www.theevertonforum.co.uk/forum
I think Duffy should get his chance. He’s been incredibly loyal and stoical about his loans and his not quite making the first team. The Republic owe us a few now,what with this accident and Gibbo’s injury. Maybe Duffy could understudy Silvain for the next season,but you look at it and think Alcaraz,Jags,Distin,Stones are going nowhere,so the lad will be third or fourth choice even with injuries and thats without one of the academy lads breaking through. Good luck to him,preferably as a blue,wherever he ends up.