Damien's inside job

Cathal Dervan13 April 2012

Damien Duff will send a thank you note to Fulham striker Louis Saha when he opens his World Cup account in Niigata on Saturday week.

The Blackburn Rovers winger will switch to centre-forward, as a foil to Leeds United's Robbie Keane, when the Republic of Ireland face Cameroon in their opening Group E encounter.

Duff has been a revelation since Mick McCarthy first threw him into the frontline in a Tallinn qualifier against Estonia.

Since then he has tormented the Dutch in a critical World Cup qualifier en route to Japan, destroyed the Russians, the Danes and the Americans in a series of friendlies and left Nigeria's Taribo West scratching his hairless head.

Little wonder then that the Irish team now call Duffer 'superglue'. Even with the lightweight new adidas Fevernova ball in use for the first time at their Saipan training ground, Duff looked like the ball was stuck to his feet.

And it is all thanks to Saha and his performance against Jaap Stam when Fulham met Manchester United in the Premiership.

"I had gone primarily to check on Steve Finnan and Roy Keane and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw how Saha's pace destroyed Stam at the heart of the United defence," said McCarthy.

"I knew then that I was going to put Damien in there against Stam and see how he liked that one in September.

"It worked a treat. Damien is so tricky and does things with the ball at his feet that centre-backs are not used to from centreforwards.

"I know that as a player, I used to hate facing people like him. Stam was the same. He looked like he had ants in his pants that day in Dublin and even when we were down to 10 men, Damien destroyed him. He was brilliant-in that role and he has been as good for me ever since.

"My only regret is that I had to try him there against Estonia, when Robbie was suffering from a loss of form, and then again when the Dutch came to Lansdowne. I would have loved to have kept his ability in that position a secret and sprung him on the World Cup.

"If I had done that, though, we may not have made the World Cup finals. And I might not have a job now."

Duff is quite happy to play a central role for Ireland.

Predominantly a left-winger at club level, he has been encouraged to shoot more often by Ewood Park manager Graeme Souness.

"I think that Graeme was quite happy to see Mick use me as a centre-forward.

"He has often said to me that I could play there if I wanted to and the only thing he wants me to improve on is my shooting, " said

Duff. "I have spent a lot of time getting in shooting practice with Dean Saunders and it has made a difference. I know when to shoot now and when to lay the ball off.

"That has helped me at Blackburn, even when I play on the wing, and it has definitely improved me as an international footballer. I think Dean has taught me elements of the striking role that I was only stumbling across without his input and that should stand me in good stead in the World Cup finals."

Duff has a penchant for big FIFA tournaments. Back in 1997 he was the star of the show as Ireland made it to the semi-finals of the World Youth Championship, only to lose to eventual champions Argentina.

He was also the first man to score a golden goal in the finals of a FIFA competition, notching the crucial score that put Morocco out in the second round.

"I won't be complaining if this World Cup is as good as that experience," said the Dubliner.

"Aside from the Dutch game, that summer was the highlight of my international career. It was the tournament where I made my name and I will always look back on it with very special memories.

"I went to Malaysia with just one appearance in the Blackburn first team under my belt.

"I played every match over there and when I got back I became an ever present in the Rovers team the following season."

Within a year of Malaysia, Duff was a regular in the Irish team as McCarthy followed the lead set by Irish youth manager Brian Kerr and employed the Dubliner down the left wing.

Then came an amazing fall from grace as Duff lost out, first at club level and then with his country.

"Damien just fell off the Richter scale really and I could never understand it," added McCarthy. "He had done so well as a young player but perhaps, like we did with Robbie Keane, we asked too much of him as a kid.

"We expected Damien to play like George Best every week and that may have been unfair. He did drift but I knew he would be back. He just needed time to find his feet again and I admire him for the way he fought back into the Irish team."

Duff did, indeed, do just that. He is now one of the first names on the team-sheets supplied by Souness and McCarthy. And he's enjoying it.

"I found it very difficult to cope when we first got back to the Premiership," claimed Duff. "I am definitely more able to cope now, with the Premiership and with international football.

"I am more mature, more experienced and more able for anything that the game can throw at me. I have, if you like, served my apprenticeship and graduated now.

"I also have a better understanding of exactly what Mick wants me to do in Japan.

"I am looking forward to delivering for him now."

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