Having previously found competitive action to be limited, playing regularly for Scunthorpe United has proved something of a shock to the system for defender Shane Duffy.

The Everton centre-back is enjoying an extended run in the Iron first-team, but, unaccustomed to quick turnarounds, admits the volume of matches had started to take its toll.

Duffy feels his form suffered as a result, though is confident the issue has now been overcome.

"I had a little bad patch about three or four games ago, which was probably down to tiredness because I'm not used to it," he said.

"But now I feel like I'm getting back there to where I was and getting better every game.

"I was just not used to playing Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Tuesday. But my body's adapted to it now.

"I'm enjoying it here.

"There's loads I have to improve on and so much to learn.

"It's just little stuff I want to improve, but if I keep doing the other stuff, hopefully I can learn from those things I'm not doing.

"Hopefully I can keep learning and keep improving while I'm here.

"I think I'm getting better with every game.

"I feel more confident. I feel fitter and stronger."

As he continues to make strides, Duffy hopes that will also be of great benefit to United.

Alan Knill's side head into Saturday's clash with Tranmere on the back of three successive draws.

And although that means the points tally has kept ticking over, it is a run Scunthorpe hope to break.

"That's nine draws now this season," said the 19-year-old.

"We've just got to keep battling on and the goals will come.

"We've conceded not the greatest goals ever, there has been some sloppy defending, but it's all over the pitch.

"We're a team. When we draw, we draw as a team; when we win, we win as a team and when we lose, we lose as a team.

"The last three games we've been the better side.

"Those teams are all above us in the table, but we're confident we can win games.

"As soon as we get a little run going I think we will be hard to beat.

"I think we just need to turn the draws into wins and we could be flying up the table.

"We've just got to take our chances.

"If we keep working in training together, it will all come."