Graham Potter plans talks with defender Shane Duffy at the end of the season

Brighton boss Graham Potter has admitted his admiration for Shane Duffy as he plans to hold talks with the veteran defender at the end of the season.

Duffy is out of contract in the summer of 2023 and following a promising start to the campaign during which he rebuilt after a disappointing loan move to Celtic, he has seen his game time restricted by injuries and coronavirus.

Potter insists the 30-year-old Northern Ireland centre-back, who has been on the south coast since 2016, can still cut it in the Premier League but insists several factors will shape his future.

“The first thing to say is that Shane’s been a really important member of the team this season. Then you have to say how well he’s done for this football club all round,” Potter said

“We were all upset with how the year went for him at Celtic. It was one of those things where on and off the pitch he struggled. It was probably one of the toughest times of his life.

“But he came back here and was a breath of fresh air. He was a credit to himself with how he handled everything. He came into the side and helped us get points.

“Since Christmas it’s not been as simple for him. It’s not been as strong a second half of the season as the first for lots of different reasons. But he’s still a really important player for us and person in the group.

“As for his future, it’s one of those things that we sit down and speak about at the end of the season.

“He was really low when he came back from Celtic and was probably thinking about where his career was going. But he’s proven to everybody that he can compete and play at this level.

“For Shane as well, he’s not getting any younger. So it’s about how he can play as much football as he can.

“With all the players you sit down