Duff At The Crossroads!
"He's a very, very talented player. He's had his problems with injuries, but hopefully they're all behind him now and Newcastle fans will start to see the best of him."I thought he'd be the type of player to excite Newcastle fans. He's a player who really excites fans.
"I spoke to him before he made the move, and recommended the club to him.
"He's been unfortunate with injuries, but that's behind him. Hopefully he'll have a really good pre-season, and he can show what he's capable of doing.
"He's a very talented player, and very exciting. He's a smashing lad, as well.
"We (Blackburn Rovers) signed Damien from Irish football. Kenny Dalglish had a top-class Irish scout called Pat Devlin, and we saw him playing in the Dublin & District Schools' League, and we signed him on the back of that.
"We were interested in three players from that game - Damien Duff, Stephen McPhail and Alan Maybury - and got one out of the three.
"He was absolutely sensational. He did brilliantly for us, and got a move to Chelsea. I thought he was absolutely brilliant for Chelsea, but got a little bit frustrated as time went on.
"He wasn't playing enough football, and he's a lad who just loves playing football.
"He could have stayed at Chelsea. He was offered a new contract, but was desperate to play week in, week out. He wasn't sure he would do that at Chelsea.
"Unfortunately, the last few years have been dogged by injury, and I hope for his sake, and the Geordies', that he has an injury free year."