Boss Chris Hughton believes there is even better to come from Albion's former Evertonian Shane Duffy.

Especially if the Republic of Ireland make it through to the World Cup finals in Russia next summer.

Duffy faces his first club Everton at the Amex on Sunday after a towering contribution to Ireland's 1-0 win against Wales in Cardiff, which squeezed them through to the World Cup qualifying play-offs.

Hughton, capped 53 times by the Republic, is increasingly impressed by Duffy's displays for both club and country - but says there is still room for improvement.

Hughton told The Argus: "Shane was very good and he has become a very comfortable international player now.

"It is my team as such and I wanted them to go through, so I was delighted. I thought it was a very watchable game, even though there were not a lot of chances, very tense, and it looked like the team that had the one good chance would win it.

"The fact he is now playing regularly at international level will only improve him more as a player.

"When you are the size he is, a lack of mobility can be one of your deficiencies, but for a big man he is very mobile as well.

"We have seen how prolific he is in the air. The best players in the (Premier) League in that position are very gifted players on the ball as well. That's the challenge for him, to become the best player he can.

"The World Cup would help him in that, and his confidence. If you are going to play in a World Cup then, irrespective of how it goes, you cannot come away from that thinking it won't make you a better player. I sincerely hope the team get there."

Duffy made his debut for Everton under David Moyes in the Europa League when he was only 17.

He was a year older when he was called up by the Republic of Ireland for a training match against an amateur team and lacerated his liver in a collision with a goalkeeper.

He lost 3.6 litres of blood and underwent an emergency operation at a Dublin hospital.

Duffy (below) recovered to earn a run of games in the Premier League at Goodison Park as a 21-year-old, following loan spells at Burnley in Scunthorpe.

The Argus: Then Moyes left for Manchester United, his progress stalled under successor Roberto Martinez and the centre-half rebuilt his career with a loan move to Yeovil and permanent switch to Blackburn before Albion bought him 14 months ago for around £3.5 million.

Hughton said: "He speaks very well of Everton and the part they have played in his progress. Their loss has been our gain. We've been delighted with him, how quickly he has settled in here.

"When he came here he was very much on the fringes of the Irish team, in and out, wasn't playing every game. He seems to be a fixture in there now and he personally is benefiting from that."