Former Celtic defender Alan Stubbs has offered a possible explanation into why he believes Shane Duffy’s move to Glasgow hasn’t worked out this season.

As quoted by the Glasgow Times, Stubbs who was once the Irishman’s coach at Everton during his youth days believes it is possibly the case that Duffy has tried ‘too hard’ to perform in the Green and White Hoops due to his love for the club as a fan and also the several changes of formation which haven’t suited the 29-year old.

“With Shane, though, I think there’s an element of caring too much and trying too hard, which worked against him.

“All of his family are Celtic diehards as well but the biggest pressure comes from within. Shane would have desperately wanted this to be a success.

“He’d have wanted to play really well and for the season to have ended so much better than it has done. But it hasn’t and I don’t believe the instability of changing from week to week – from a back three to a four or a five – has helped him.

“Shane would have been at his best in a five. If you’d played Christopher Jullien and Kristoffer Ajer on either side of him you’d have a decent three plus a couple of wing-backs but injuries also prevented that from happening.

“Unfortunately, Jullien has been injury-prone ever since he joined and now he’s potentially out until Christmas.

“Ajer looks as though he might leave in the summer and it wouldn’t surprise me if Celtic had a completely new back four next season.

“They also definitely need a new keeper so that won’t be easy to bed in quickly – and they won’t be the only changes made. They could need to replace 10-15 players and that’s down to bad management by the club, not by Neil.”

When Duffy first joined the club back in September a majority of the support was expecting big things from the experienced English Premier League defenders and there were instantly high expectations.

I’m sure there would have been nothing better for Duffy personally than joining the club and becoming a hero by playing his part in the 10 in a row season.

Unfortunately, it has far from worked out for him in what has been a disastrous season for the club.

One thing you thought a player like Duffy would come in and improve is defensive solidity from set-pieces and although it is not single-handedly down to him we have been dreadful at defending them/

At the end of the season, there is no doubt he will be headed back to Brighton, not looking back at his Celtic career in great fondness.