Duff is desperate to return

Chelsea winger Damien Duff admitted he is “desperate” to return to action after injury and rates his summer move to Stamford Bridge as the best decision of his life.

Duff initially missed three weeks due to a dislocated shoulder sustained on December 21 at Fulham but then sustained an Achilles problem on his return.

Chelsea have badly missed his pace and penetration over the past couple of months, especially with a host of players ruled out of last weekend’s win against Charlton due to injury and suspension.

The winger was nevertheless hopeful of making the bench for tonight’s game at Portsmouth, while he also has Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at Arsenal in his sights.

Duff revealed: “Everything was going great until December 21 but I’ve just had a couple of injuries so hopefully I’ll be back soon.

“I’m desperate to get back but I love it at Chelsea. It’s been the best decision that I’ve made in my life.”

He told Chelsea TV: “At Fulham, I remember getting the ball and going past one or two players and then having a shot. It would all have been worth it if the ball had gone in!

“But it didn’t and I knew straightaway that I’d done something. I was back playing again in about three weeks, which was good, but then I did my Achilles.

“I don’t know if it was related to my shoulder or the way I was running or whatever, but it’s been a depressing six weeks, to be fair. I’m just desperate to get back.”

Duff has already revealed that specialist advice told him to have surgery on his injured shoulder.

However, even though there is said to be an 80% chance that the injury could reoccur, he is hoping to delay an operation until this summer by working hard on his recuperation.

It remains to be seen whether the Republic of Ireland international can feature tonight, even as a substitute, but boss Claudio Ranieri at least has several players back in contention for places.

Scott Parker was forced to sit out last Sunday’s win against his former club Charlton as part of the terms of his move to Stamford Bridge.

John Terry and Joe Cole are available after suspension, while Cole has also shaken off a groin injury, and Claude Makelele is expected to be back in the line-up after injury.

Hernan Crespo is back in contention after a lengthy groin problem, but Carlo Cudicini and Marcel Desailly face fitness tests.

Juan Sebastian Veron, Emmanuel Petit, Mario Stanic and Celestine Babayaro are still injured, while Geremi is on his way back from the African Nations Cup.

Terry’s expected return to central defence, meanwhile, means that Frank Lampard’s brief stint as stand-in skipper has come to an end, but the midfielder thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“It was the second game that I’ve been captain and the first game at home and it’s a great feeling to captain Chelsea. It was brilliant,” he admitted.

“I wasn’t sure if I would do as there were a few big characters still playing against Charlton, such as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, but it was a great honour for me and I was really pleased.”