PLAYER PROFILE

Damien Duff

Position: Midfield

Height: 5'10

Weight: 9st 7lbs

Date of Birth: 1979-03-02 Ballyboden, Republic Of Ireland

Damien Duff

Duff burst onto the scene after rising through the ranks of the Blackburn squad, but it wasn't until Jason Wilcox departed for Leeds that he really fulfilled the potential he has always shown.

The young winger's performances back in the Premiership were impressive enough to spark frequent speculation about just how long he will remain at Blackburn, with the big guns all apparently interested in acquiring him.

His stock rose further with his performances in the 2002 World Cup, where he was utilised by Mick McCarthy as a forward, supporting Robbie Keane and providing constant darting runs at the opposition defences. The scintillating displays by Duff on the world's biggest stage made it even harder for Rovers to hold onto him for much longer.

An inspired 2002/03 season despite nagging injuries seemed to have sealed him a move to a bigger club and with Liverpool and Manchester United both sniffing around him near the end of the campaign, it looked like he had played his last game for the club.

However, both were put off by the prohibitive �17m Rovers insisted on for him, and as the summer progressed, it seemed less likely that he would be leaving. That all changed when Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea and gave them the kind of spending power most clubs can only dream of.

In July 2003, Rovers accepted Chelsea's fourth bid in a week, and Duff eventually decided to leave the North West and move to the bright lights of London.

While he made over 30 appearances for the Blues in his first season at Stamford Bridge, Duff was hampered by a shoulder injury. He soldiered on, but reports in the summer linked him with a move away from Chelsea, more so following the arrival of Tiago Mendes. However, the Irishman insisted he was happy in London and would continue to fight for his place in the team when fit.

In the 2004/05 season, Duff continued to fight for his place and became a regular fixture for club and country. Making 48 appearances, he scored 10 times, including the winner in the Carling Cup Semi Final Second Leg against Manchester United, as his team secured the League and Carling Cup double.

On the international front, he proved instrumental in the centre of Brian Kerr's Republic of Ireland team, helping his country in a tough World Cup qualifying group including France. However, they failed to qualify for the tournament, while Kerr was replaced by Steve Staunton, though Duff will of course continue to be a key figure for Ireland.

The 2005/06 season was a little less fruitful for him with Chelsea though, as even though he picked up another league championship winners' medal, he was in and out of the star-packed team at times, and managed to score only three goals.

He therefore decided to leave Stamford Bridge in July of that year and join Newcastle United, where he struggled to really capture his finest form thanks, in part, to injury.

Injury problems continued in 2007/08, but he returned in the second half of the season and is still a vital Magpies player.