Shane Duffy desperate for action - even if it’s away from Everton FC

Feb 14 2013 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

SHANE DUFFY has celebrated the anniversary of his last Premier League appearance at Goodison Park, by appealing for more league action – even if it means going out on loan.

The Irish defender was a late substitute when Everton beat Chelsea last February, a run-out which came hot on the heels of three successive starts in league and FA Cup.

But a 93rd-minute cameo at West Ham apart, Duffy hasn’t progressed further than the subs bench. He isn’t prepared to argue with David Moyes, though.

“I haven’t played a league game in a full calendar year now,” he said. “It’s been frustrating. You’ve just got to be patient and I have been patient to be honest.

“I’m just going to wait. I trust the manager, he knows what he’s doing with me so I’m going to let him do the right thing by me. I’m not going to argue with him. Would you? He’s not a man you’d want to argue with!

“Seriously, though, I wouldn’t be anywhere without him. He’s helped me a lot, he’s the one who signed me.”

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 skipper has been on the bench for all but one of Everton’s last nine games.

And Moyes has reassured him that he remains part of his future plans — a point underlined by Duffy’s new three-year contract last September.

But even Johnny Heitinga’s recent dip in form hasn’t been enough to elevate Duffy beyond the bench and the 21-year-old is hoping for another spell on loan to further his football education.

Last season, Duffy clocked up 18 games for Scunthorpe in League One and now believes he is ready to handle regular exposure in The Championship.

He said: “I’m dying to get out really. The manager knows what he’s doing with me. Hopefully he can get me something sorted. Even if I’m staying with Everton, he says I’m not far off.

“I went to League One when I was 19. I think I’m ready now for just below the Premier League.”

Ross Barkley, meanwhile, is back at Goodison after his second loan spell of the season.

The young midfielder made four starts during a month at Leeds United, but Elland Road manager Neil Warnock said: “I spoke to David (Moyes) and Ross and I cannot guarantee playing him and I did say I would do when I took him on board. It is only fair to David and Ross that he gets first team football.”