Everton defender Shane Duffy has had life-saving surgery after a freak accident left him with serious liver damage.

Duffy, 18, was playing for the Republic of Ireland against an Irish Juniors eleven in a training match on Friday when he suffered a laceration to his liver in a collision with goalkeeper Adrian Walsh.

After being treated on the pitch by team surgeon Professor John O'Byrne and team doctor Alan Byrne, he was taken to nearby Mater Hospital where surgeon Gerry McEntee performed an emergency operation.

Duffy remained in the hospital's High Dependency ward yesterday. His blood pressure dropped to dangerously low levels during the operation but was controlled and he is expected to make a full recovery.

O'Byrne said: "Shane sustained a laceration to his liver and was rushed to the Mater Hospital for emergency surgery.

"Gerry McEntee and the intensive care staff in the Mater must be credited for their expertise and fast response which in no uncertain terms saved Shane's life.

"Shane was stabilised in intensive care after the surgery, which stopped internal bleeding, and this morning is conscious and is in the care of the Mater's high dependency unit, having im-proved overnight."

Duffy had been scheduled to remain with Giovanni Trapattoni's senior squad, solely for training purposes, ahead of this week's friendly matches against Paraguay and Algeria.