Duffy in hospital after freak injury

EVERTON defender Shane Duffy was being detained in hospital overnight in Dublin after tests showed up abdominal bleeding following a freak injury sustained in the training game at Gannon Park.

A nasty but entirely accidental collision with Irish Juniors keeper Adrian Walsh — in which the latter’s knees impacted heavily on Duffy’s chest — saw the defender receive lengthy treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off and taken to hospital.

Said manager Giovanni Trapattoni: “Our thoughts are with Shane and we wish him a speedy recovery.”

The 18-year-old Derry native, who is awaiting a decision of the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) on his eligibility to play for the Republic of Ireland, had been due to stay with the Irish squad throughout next week, even though the case brought by the Irish Football Association in Belfast meant that he couldn’t have played in next week’s friendly games at the RDS.