Ireland boost as Duff returns

GIOVANNI Trapattoni’s prayers appear to have been answered with his players getting a clean bill of health following the weekend’s action in the Premier League, Championship and SPL.

But by far the biggest boost ahead of the first leg of Ireland’s World Cup play-off against France next Saturday was the news that Damien Duff returned to play a full 90 minutes in Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Wigan yesterday meaning that, as he had predicted himself earlier in the week, the winger will now be able to join up with the rest of the Irish squad when they begin their build-up to the big match in Malahide tomorrow.

By contrast, there was a further injury blow for France with Abou Diaby set to be unavailable for the games in both Dublin and France after Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger revealed that the midfielder will be sidelined for up to three weeks with a calf injury. Diaby was replaced after 20 minutes in Arsenal’s 4-1 win at Wolves on Saturday.