Boss Alan Knill has backed loan signing Shane Duffy to be a success at Scunthorpe United.

The Irishman arrived at Glanford Park this week for an initial one-month spell after returning from Under-21 international duty.

And Knill expects the Everton defender to quickly challenge for a first-team place.

"He's been good," the Iron manager said.

"He nearly broke my hand when he shook it, which I kind of like!

"I've seen him a lot. I must have seen him eight times over the last two or three years.

"He's a proper defender and a proper centre-half.

"He heads the ball and likes defending.

"When I spoke to David Moyes (Everton manager) about him I said, he needs to be playing in someone's first-team or trying to get in someone's first-team.

"He's played a lot of reserve team games, but you can play as many of those as you like, you're really judged on what you do in the league.

"Hopefully he will get the opportunity to play here.

"I think he can come in and do a job for us.

"I spoke to David Moyes and he definitely thinks he can do a job.

"We'd like to thank them for letting us have him and now it's for us to try to develop him."