Albion's version of the Irish backstop admits he knows nothing about Brexit.

But Shane Duffy knows a thing or two about defending.

He will do his utmost at Old Trafford today to upset friends back home by helping the Seagulls cause a surprise against the club he grew up supporting.

Duffy has been inundated with requests for tickets as he tries to get to grips with United's revised strike force under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He said: "Yes, I had to get a lot of tickets! They are all Man United fans. My mates are texting me saying 'I'll let you score but let us win'. It's good banter!

"I actually grew up a United fan. Until I was about 13 or 14 when I stopped supporting them. I have some good memories as a kid. I had all the kits, my mum put me in them watching the game.

"It was always United and Celtic for me. Then when I started playing I stuck with Celtic and that's the team I followed. But in England I would say Man United. My mum was buzzing when I scored against them."

Duffy struck his first Premier League goal in the 3-2 win against United at the Amex (below) in August, so what about if he scored the winner at Old Trafford?

The Argus: "I I would be loved by Liverpool fans in Ireland and hated by Man United fans," he said. "It would be a big thing. In Ireland it’s always Liverpool or United. That’s how it is."

Duffy will be a threat to United from set pieces as he tries to add to the four goals he has scored, which already equals the best tally in a season of his career.

His main role will be as that Irish backstop, alongside partner Lewis Dunk.

"I don't know what it means (Brexit)," Duffy said. "I saw the PM on TV and just turned it off. I've no idea. I just hope it doesn't affect football."

Duffy has been used so far against United with trying to combat Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian powerhouse has been on target in his last two appearances against Albion, but he will only be on the bench today.

Solskjaer has turned to Marcus Rashford and has been rewarded. Most of the England livewire's five goals and five assists in his last nine league appearances have come under the Norwegian.

After Liverpool last week, Duffy and his defensive colleagues face another tormenting trio in Rashford, ex-Albion loanee Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial.

Duffy said: "I've always said Marcus Rashford is a top player. Maybe he’s been playing in not quite his normal position until now.

"But we've looked at videos of them and they are clearly playing well, everybody is enjoying it. He has a kind of free role now.

"They are quite similar to Liverpool because the three attackers stay high. It's a real test for us but one we’re looking forward to. In the end I'm sure that Mo Salah is as quick as Marcus Rashford."

Liverpool needed a penalty won and converted by Egyptian magician Salah to beat Albion.

Regardless of whether United have Rashford or Lukaku coming on to create havoc, Duffy is ready for a severe test.

He joked: "I don't know if I'd rather face any of them! But I know what you mean. Maybe it's more of a battle against Lukaku.

"But on the other hand if he gets hold of you there's nothing you can do about it - and if he catches you at the back post he's going to get over you.

"So, it depends how you look at it. You have to adapt to different strikers in this league. You have to keep your levels and adapt to them all."

The Argus: Duffy and Dunk (above) have been models of consistency at the heart of Albion's rearguard.

The goal scored by the Irishman against United five months ago is still fresh in his mind.

"It was my first Premier League goal and one I'll always remember," he said. "But it's different away from home and it's a different Man United now too. I'm really excited about going there and testing myself against that top three and the form they are in."

It is Albion's ninth crack at trying to take a point or three off one of the top six on home soil.

"I think it's got to happen at some time," Duffy told The Argus. "You have to believe you're going to win the game and that's what we'll do.

"We're in good form going there. Some teams go there beaten already. But you have to go there and think 'why can’t we beat them'. All the pressure is on them to beat us three or four nil, that's what people expect.

"But the people in our changing room don't think that way, we know we've got a good team and will give them a tough game.

"The top six are getting better and better and harder to beat away from home. If you open up against them it can be a big score, so you have to be careful. But we're looking forward to it.

"We have good players who are on form and hopefully we can take that into the game. We played well there in the league last year (1-0) which was one of our best away performances - on another day we would have scored a couple and it would have been a big result.

"Hopefully we can go there and play similar to that and put a few in the net."