Duff on song as Fulham star back — that’s Zamora

THERE may have been more attractive looking fixtures this weekend but there was an Italian whose attention was fully taken by the happenings at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

With senior players Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne and Shay Given all struggling with injuries ahead of Ireland’s European Championship qualifier against Macedonia in Dublin on March 26, there is at last good news for Giovanni Trapattoni.

The 86-times capped Damien Duff has hit a rich vein of form for the west Londoners recently, scoring twice in their victory over Blackburn on Saturday, and will be key to Trapattoni’s hopes of capturing three points to keep the heat on Russia who head Group B on nine points from four games — two ahead of Ireland, Armenia and Slovakia.