Shane Duffy is desperate to build on the progress he made last season.

The young centre-half came back from a successful loan spell at Scunthorpe and promptly made his Premier League debut at Spurs in January.

The following week he impressed from the start at Aston Villa and then picked up the man of the match award in the home draw with Blackburn. Two more first team appearances arrived before the end of a memorable campaign for the 20-year-old Irishman.

And when asked if he felt he had made a breakthrough, Duffy replied: “Yes, I think I did. I got my chance last season.

“I went on loan first, ended up playing 20 games and that got me going. That gave me confidence for when I came back and when I got here I got in and did alright.

“It has really helped me. Now maybe I am a fringe player but I am working hard in training and want to kick on next season.

Duffy is in no doubt about the benefit of his spell at Glanford Park with League One Scunny.

Not only did exposure to first-team football improve him as a player, but experiencing life away from the pristine facilities at Finch Farm has made him more determined to make it at Everton.

“I dreamed about playing [for the first team] and sometimes you have to go lower to come back up again, and that is what I did.

“You learn a lot when you go out because here it is perfect – perfect training ground and perfect players beside you.

“But when you go out, you have to do things for yourself and it makes you more mature. When you come back you realise it is the best and you don’t want to leave it again.”

Last season also saw Duffy called up by Ireland for a full international fixture for the very first time.

His senior debut still awaits him, but just training with the squad gave him a massive boost.

“Being called up by your country is a big thing,” he added. “It was probably my proudest moment so far.

“I didn’t get on but it was all experience and being around the players I looked up to when I was young was great for me.

“It came about through playing at Everton and hopefully that first cap will come next season or the season after."