Soccer: Duff destined for the top - Souness

Graeme Souness feels Blackburn’s Damien Duff has the talent to become a big Premiership star.

Duff burst onto the scene with Rovers four years ago and quickly earned a reputation as one of the most exciting young prospects around.

The left-winger then suffered a setback when the Lancashire side were relegated to the Nationwide League and this season he has been hindered by a hamstring injury.

But the Republic of Ireland international is fully fit now and Souness believes the 22-year-old will really start to blossom.

Ahead of Blackburn’s game against Leeds at Ewood Park tomorrow, Souness predicted that Duff has a very bright future in front of him.

‘‘We feel that Damien has the potential to be a top, top man in the Premier League and we expect him to do that in the coming years,’’ he said.

‘‘This year he has been held back a wee bit by his injury. But I think the respect teams show Damien is obvious to see because he’s never just confronted by a full-back, he’s confronted by a full-back and a covering defender or midfield player.

‘‘People queue up against him because they know he can take you on, get to the byline and cause all sorts of problems.’’

Leeds have a half-decent left-winger themselves in Harry Kewell. Souness is a big admirer of Kewell, but he claims it is no good just worrying about the Australian.

He feels Leeds are so good they can threaten teams from any area of the pitch.

‘‘Kewell has got individual ability and Mark Viduka has individual ability, but he’s also a team player,’’ he said.

‘‘But like all good teams, they can hurt you from more than just one area and that’s what makes them a good team.

‘‘Top teams can hit you from five or six areas and that’s what Leeds do.

‘‘They’re a very good team, a team that has been together for a few years, has a good understanding, a good togetherness and they’ve done very well over the last few years without winning anything.’’

Blackburn defender Lucas Neill also respects Leeds and he claims the Rovers players must win their individual battles if they are going to get a result against David O’Leary’s title contenders.

‘‘If you look at the back, they are very strong and you only have to look at the number of goals they’ve conceded and it’s about none,’’ he said.

‘‘That’s title-winning defensive form and we’re going to have to find a weakness in their team.

‘‘If we are going to get anything from this game, we have to first win our individual battles, whether it’s me against Harry or Henning Berg against Viduka.

‘‘Once everyone has won their one-on-ones, then we can get something out of the game.’’

Once again Blackburn are without skipper Garry Flitcroft, who has a groin injury, while Stig Inge Bjornebye is ruled out with a calf problem.