World Cup boost as Duff shows no sign of stopping

Damien Duff will today be named in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad for the World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan next month, confirming the veteran winger’s commitment to extending his international career.

Duff captained the Irish team when earning his 100th cap against Italy at the European Championship finals this summer but ambiguous remarks he made at the time appeared to leave his future in the green shirt up in the air.

However, it is understood that Duff has made clear to Trapattoni his desire to continue to make himself available for his country, something which will have come as music to the ears of the manager who has often spoken of the winger’s huge value to the team in terms of both ability and experience. Proving his fitness is not an issue either, the 33-year-old hit the ground running at club level last Saturday when he scored Fulham’s first goal of the new season in a 5-0 thrashing of Norwich.