£30k-a-week striker says ‘incredible’ Celtic defender ‘always came out on top’ against him

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Celtic have got their hands on a superb defender in Shane Duffy, according to Glenn Murray.

The 28-year-old joined the Bhoys in the summer, completing a season-long loan switch from Brighton.

After a bright start for Celtic, Duffy’s form dropped somewhat, with poor displays against Rangers, AC Milan and in the Premiership draw with Aberdeen.

However, the Irishman looked better against Lille and in the Scottish Cup win over the Dons, keeping Sam Cosgrove at bay.

With Sparta Prague coming up in the Europa League this week, the Bhoys contingent will hope Duffy’s form continues to pick up as they seek to get their first win in Group H.

“It doesn’t really matter who Shane is up against, he’s gobbled them up and spat them out,” Murray, on loan at Watford, told the Scottish Sun.

“I’ve come up against him before and he always came out on top in that particular battle.

“Any aerial battles, he’s winning them. That’s a certainty. So, yes, Celtic have got themselves a defender, first and foremost. But also a defender who is very capable playing with the ball.

“They’ve got themselves a leader too. Someone who leads by example every day, who wants to win football games — and he did that at Brighton a lot over four years.

“Obviously we came under a lot of pressure in games. And it was incredible the amount of times it was Shane who saved us, with him throwing himself in there with a last-ditch block.

“Another huge attribute is his heading in the opposition box as well. You’ve already seen that with his two goals early on.”

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Very kind words from Murray, a high-calibre striker with over 200 career goals to his name, plus 46 assists, so he definitely knows how to get the better of defenders.

For the £30,000-a-week forward to admit he could never get the better of Duffy speaks volumes to what a class defender he is.

Admittedly, he’s had a slump in form following his bright start at Parkhead, but it looks as though he’s back on the up.