Shane Duffy has returned to Beighton with his disastrous loan spell officially cut short by injury.
The defender has made just one starting appearance since the end of January with Stephen Welsh preferred to partner Kris Ajer as Celtic’s season petered out.
With Jozo Simunovic released at the end of his contract Celtic were in need of defensive back-up and support for Ajer and Chris Jullien with Duffy a popular choice on the baxk of his heroic performances from Ireland.
After scoring in both of his opening matches things looked like going to script but as Celtic’s season collapsed in October in November so too did Duffy’s form and confidence.
The Sun reports:
SHANE DUFFY’S calamitous Celtic career is finally over. SunSport understands the hugely expensive loan flop has been sent back to Brighton after an injury ruled him out of the final two Premiership games against St Johnstone and Hibernian.
Stopper Duffy cost a £2million loan fee and wages of £30,000-plus a week – totaling around £3m – and yet the Republic of Ireland’s time at Parkhead was an unmitigated disaster.
The 29-year-old arrived from the English Premier League Seagulls last September on a season-long loan having been out of the picture at the Amex Stadium.
No details are ever released about loan fees or wages arrangements.
Duffy was expected to return to Brighton in January but a serious knee injury to Jullien meant that he was kept on.
With a year left on his Brighton contract he looks like moving on again with a reunion at Nottingham Forest with Chris Hughton the most obvious move.
Duffy started the 2020 Scottish Cup Final, helping Celtic to beat Hearts to lift the trophy for the fourth year running.