The Brighton and Hove Albion defender left Everton in 2014.
Shane Duffy was not good enough to play for Everton, according to the Brighton and Hove Albion defender himself.
Duffy returns to Everton, the club at which he spent six years, with Brighton on Saturday.
Ahead of the game, the defender told the Argus: “I owe a lot to Everton. I’ll always be thankful for what they did for me.
“I know at the time I wasn’t ready to play there and I wasn’t good enough to play there.”
After failing to break into Everton’s plans, Duffy left to join Blackburn Rovers in 2014.
But the Irishman’s career picked up again following a £4 million move to Brighton two years later, in which time he became a Championship runner up and regular at both Premier League and international level.
That has recently sparked talk of transfer elsewhere, but Duffy said: “I’m far away from that.
“I’m so happy here. This is probably the happiest I have been at any club I’ve been at.
“Everyone’s ambition is to go as high as they can but for me that’s not even in my head for one second.
“You never know if it comes upon you but I’m just so happy here.”
Everton have encountered problems this season in Duffy’s position, with summer signing Yerry Mina yet to feature for Marco Silva’s side as he struggles for fitness.
And it is plausible a player like Duffy would interest the Toffees, should he ever become available.
Would the Brighton defender be a good addition for Everton?
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