ALBION defensive rock Shane Duffy is seeking an Amex pick-me-up after his World Cup dream was shattered.

Duffy returns to Premier League action for the Seagulls against Stoke on Monday evening with his hopes of appearing in the finals in Russia next summer in tatters.

He headed the Republic of Ireland into a sixth-minute lead in their qualifying decider against Denmark in Dublin last night.

Duffy’s first home goal for his country, and second this season in the qualifying campaign, put Martin O’Neill’s side on course to join England in the finals following Saturday’s 0-0 draw in the first leg of the play-off against the Danes.

It all went horribly wrong after that as an own goal by Middlesbrough right-back Cyrus Christie and a hat-trick of sublime finishes by Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen sent Denmark out of sight.

A late Nicklas Bendtner penalty completed a 5-1 rout to leave Duffy and his international team-mates licking their wounds.

The Denmark line-up included Werder Bremen’s Thomas Delaney, a summer midfield target for Albion before they signed Davy Propper from PSV Eindhoven.

Propper is set to maintain his ever-present record for the Seagulls against Stoke after playing a part in a 3-0 friendly win for the Netherlands in Romania last night.

Propper, nursing an ankle injury, was an unused sub for Thursday’s 1-0 victory in Scotland.

He returned to the starting line-up against Romania and almost added to three goals in his previous two appearances for the Dutch in the first half, when he was denied by Watford keeper Costel Pantilimon.

Propper was part of a triple substitution in the second half, once Ryan Babel had doubled the Dutch lead.

Meanwhile, figures published by the Premier League reveal the towering Duffy has been the best defender in the air in the first three months of the season. He has made 103 effective clearances, 77 headed clearances and won 55 aerial battles, ranking him top in each category.