SHANE Duffy's loan at Parkhead has been cut short, with the central defender returning south to his parent club Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Irishman was brought to Glasgow at great expense last summer, with Celtic shelling out around £2million for the loan deal to go through, as well as paying around £30,000 a week for the 29-year-old's services.

Duffy's loan spell started in promising fashion but the centre-back soon slipped down the pecking order at the Premiership club following a series of costly, high-profile errors.

Academy graduate Stephen Welsh has been interim manager John Kennedy's first pick to partner Norwegian defender Kristoffer Ajer at the back as Duffy has struggled for game time.

And it now looks as though Duffy has played his last game for Celtic, with the centre-half returning down south after picking up an injury.

The knock has ruled the Ireland internationalist out of Celtic's two remaining games, resulting in Duffy being sent back to the English Championship.

He made his last appearance for the club on 14 February as the Hoops came from behind to defeat St Johnstone 2-1 at McDiarmid Park.