Irish footballing legend Damien Duff is set to finally make his SSE Airtricity League of Ireland debut this Monday when Shamrock Rovers host second-placed Cork City at Tallaght Stadium.
The former Chelsea, Blackburn and Newcastle winger returned to full training this week and was on the bench for the 3-1 win away to Longford Town but admitted Rovers' manager Pat Fenlon had never planned to play him:
The plan wasn’t to go on, just for the gaffer to get me down there and to be involved. I feel good out there training after being out for so long but I’ve really only trained three times in the last seven months, so I’ve no right to be expecting to last 90 minutes or even 10. But I’m back training and that’s good.
Duff stated he would like to finish his career in Ireland and he signed for Rovers in July but has so far been hampered by injury and a lack of match fitness. The 36-year-old said it was a "no-brainer" to join Rovers and express his eagerness to play for the club:
It’s not going to be easy, I know I’m going to have to be at the top of my game to impress here but every footballer wants to play and if you know anything about me, I’m not a good watcher, I want to be out there on the pitch.
Pat Fenlon didn't comment on Duffer's prospects of getting a run-out on Monday evening, when fourth-placed Shamrock Rovers play seventh-placed Longford Town at Tallaght Stadium. The game kicks off at 7:05pm in what could be a historic night for Irish football.
