Shane Duffy has given Albion fans the fitness report they wanted to hear.

The towering defender says he felt better than expected as he made his return after a three-month absence.

But he has also told of the mental agony of missing his club’s promotion run-in.

Duffy is back action after recovering from a fractured bone in his foot.

He played the full 90 minutes as the Republic of Ireland went down 3-1 to Mexico in a friendly in New Jersey, operating in the middle of a defensive three.

Duffy said: “Obviously you don’t want to lose the game and it was a disappointing night result-wise, but for me, I am delighted. 90 minutes, I felt good.

“My fitness was actually better than I thought it might have been. I felt good.

“It’s another step to where I want to be. It’s the road you have to take when you are out for so long.”

Duffy found it tough to handle missing the push for the Premier League following the injury at Nottingham Forest in early March which ended his domestic season.

He revealed: “I was playing good football - I was playing some of the best I have played.

“I have missed promotion to the Premier League, I have missed that run-in, so it was difficult.

“But, mentally, I’ve got a good family around me and got a good physio for the rehab and I have been back.

“I could have played the last couple of games of the season but I didn’t risk it.

“I just got training in and my fitness is good now.”

He could face Uruguay in Dublin tomorrow and Austria in a World Cup qualifier next weekend.

But he admits it is tough to keep his mind off the Premier League.

The former Everton youngster added: “They are exciting times. It’s hard to put it to one side but I have got important games coming up here now with Ireland, that’s all my focus now.

“When it’s done, I can focus on what’s happening next year with the Premier League and have a good crack at it.”