The summer is well and truly over for Shane Duffy.
After a European Championships that saw the big Derry defender nail down a place in the Republic of Ireland team, he would have hoped to go on and make a mark at Blackburn Rovers.
Or even get a move to the Premier League. Or Celtic.
His chances of getting a move away from Ewood Park have certainly increased, but that likelihood of him taking a step up are getting slimmer and slimmer after something of a nightmare run for the centre-half on Wednesday night.
Last Saturday, Rovers were beaten 3-0 away to Wigan Athletic, with Duffy turning the ball into his own net in the 63rd minute.
Shane Duffy with the 'Come and get me' to Celtic pic.twitter.com/H07if4ygao
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) August 13, 2016
Unfortunately for Duffy – and Rovers fans – the Irishman took his goal-scoring form to Wales for Wednesday night’s trip to Cardiff. The 24-year-old has scored two goals in the wrong end in the space of SEVEN first half minutes.
The first going in after a rebound off the post from a shot by Declan John, while the second saw Duffy head a Peter Whittingham free-kick past Jason Steele.
All this after rejecting a new contract offer ahead of kick-off in the Welsh capital.
https://twitter.com/Imowencoyle/status/765990293200048128
But that wasn’t the end of it for the Republic of Ireland international, as he got sent off in added time for a second bookable offence for kicking the ball away.
Shane Duffy scores two own goals & is sent off in stoppage time as Rovers suffer a third successive league defeat.
— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) August 17, 2016
It may not shock you to hear fans are not best impressed by Duffy’s performance. Except from fans of other clubs, who are loving it.
announce Duffy hat trick followed by liquidation
— 𝒞𝒽𝓇𝒾𝓈𝓉𝒾𝒶𝓃𝑒 (@urghbusani) August 17, 2016
announce owen coyles replacement Harambe
— Joe (@joeblackburnpfc) August 17, 2016
In 47 minutes of football (Wigan 63rd, Cardiff 14 & 20) Shane Duffy scores 3 own goals after rejecting new deal. Which way's the goal again?
— Joe Gibney (@joegibney15) August 17, 2016
If you're having a down day, could be worse, could be a Blackburn player, specifically Shane Duffy
— Dan (@D4NI3LRyan) August 17, 2016
3 in 2 for Shane Duffy ,bet he wishes he d stayed in Boyzone
— Tim Mathers (@Mathers2Tim) August 17, 2016
Shane Duffy
Saturday:Own goal
Sunday:Deactivated his twitter page
Wed:Rejected a contract offer & Two own goals pic.twitter.com/vqlkxzbazb— Barry O'Mahony (@barryomahony_9) August 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/DanielTroyOtis/status/765996042093522944
Poor guy. He even got a standing ovation from the home fans.
Blackburn's Duffy scores 2 own goals for Cardiff, now sent off with last kick of the game, off to standing ovation 👏 pic.twitter.com/8UavTk01nk
— Scott Bowers (@ScottBowers) August 17, 2016
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