Duff is Behind

By Nick Raynor
August 2 2006

Newcastle United manager Glenn Roeder has admitted Damien Duff’s fitness is behind that of his team mates.

Roeder does however tell that everything else is going really well, and that Duff should be fit by the opening day of the Premiership when Newcastle take on Wigan.

 

Duff signed for Newcastle for a bargain £5 million from Chelsea, and the Republic of Ireland international made a good impression in his debut in a friendly against PSV.

 

And according to Roeder, Duff looks set to play in Latvia next week in the UEFA Cup qualifier.

 

Roeder told the Chronicle:

 

"Damien is still really just starting his pre-season work and he is a good 10 days behind the rest of our first team squad and he is in all this week.

 

"He will probably play in Latvia next week because he will want to. He has only been with us for a week and we have liked what we have seen of him.

 

"On Saturday against PSV Eindhoven he gave us a hint of what he will do for us this season and we believe he will be a major asset to us.

 

"Off the field he has settled straight in. His girlfriend has just qualified as a doctor in Dublin and he has a stable family life and background, and he will be what I call a low maintenance player for us."