Brighton and Hove Albion are very confident that defender Shane Duffy will be ready for the new Premier League season.

Duffy suffered a groin injury that he aggravated on international duty. He had to go through surgery this summer to correct the issue.

But he will be ready for the first game on August 11 against Watford.

Duffy is quoted by The Argus as saying: "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.

"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."