SHANE Duffy WILL be fit for Albion’s return to Premier League action after groin surgery.

The Republic of Ireland central defender regrets aggravating the injury on international duty.

But it will not prevent him lining up for the Seagulls in their opening game at Watford on August 11.

Duffy has resumed full training with the rest of the squad at their pre-season camp in Schruns, Austria.

He will not play in tomorrow’s opening friendly against St Gallen in Switzerland (1pm) but hopes to be involved in a training ground match next week.

Duffy sustained the injury as Albion sealed survival with two matches to spare.

He revealed: “I felt it at the end of the season, it was probably after the Manchester United game and I was having injections and tablets to get me through it.

“Then I went away with Ireland and I probably made it worse.

“I thought I would then have four or five weeks to let it heal, but I tried to go back in the gym and it was still sore and then I went to go and get the op. I just needed it to be done.”

Duffy played for the Republic in friendlies against France and the United States following Albion’s closing defeat at Liverpool.

He said: “I am only a week behind the lads, but looking back now, I probably shouldn’t have played after the Liverpool game.

“I should have got it done and I probably would’ve been all right. I didn’t think it was that serious, I thought it was just a rest would do it. I am back in full training with the lads. I won’t play on Saturday, but there’s then a game at the training ground and I want to play in that.

“I’ll only miss one game, so I’m quite lucky and have healed quite quickly. I’ve trained twice this week and it hasn’t put me that far behind really.”