LIKE MOST of the Irish squad, Damien Duff will meet Giovanni Trapattoni for the first time this week. But it's what, rather than who, the Italian already knows that the Dubliner is hoping will enable the Republic to mount a serious challenge for World Cup qualification over the next 18 months.

"I don't know too much about his methods or his approach to the game, but I've seen his CV and it's pretty cool," says the 29-year-old. "He's been at big clubs, worked with top players. If anybody can sort us out then, hopefully, it's him."

Duff, back home to take part in a promotional event, memorably described the Irish as having resembled a pub team during their last World Cup campaign, and he made no attempt to hide the fact they did not do nearly well enough to threaten the Czech or German grip on the top spots in the more recent European championship campaign.

He believes the Italian's experience, however, will benefit what is generally a youthful squad, and that the side's hopes of upsetting the seedings by finishing ahead of Bulgaria would also be boosted by all of the players making themselves available again.

"I think there's still the need for an awful lot of guidance," he says. "I'm not young at this stage, but there's an awful lot of young players in the squad and we can do with the gaffer showing us ways that we can improve.

"I'm looking forward to meeting and talking with him," says the Newcastle United man. "He can definitely bring a lot of knowledge to the squad, things like teaching players how to kill off a game. When I was at Chelsea, Mourinho was probably the best going at that, and even if it's to do with time-wasting, it's not pretty, but it's the sort of thing we have to be better at doing when we get in front in a game."

The return of Steve Finnan, Andy O'Brien and Stephen Ireland would be a help too, of course.

"They're three top-quality players," he says, "but even if they're not around (for the first games), what's important is that they're fit and available for August and the first competitive games in September."

If Duff will be glad to see Trapattoni for the first time, then the Italian will doubtless be equally happy to lay eyes on the winger who, when fully fit, remains this Ireland team's most potent attacking threat.

Just now he is still well short of his best but, after another hugely frustrating season with injury, he is, he says, delighted just to be playing again and looking forward to the squad's two-week get-together.

"It's been difficult, but, to be fair, the doctor said that it would be a year before I felt myself again and that's been about right," he says. "The foot is okay now but it's about fitness and sharpness. I'm fit . . . I could run all day, but sharpness for a winger is the thing and I don't have that at all yet."

After the Colombia game in London, his plan is to take a few weeks off back with his family in Dublin before returning to Newcastle, where the aim will be to persuade the club's fans that their initial excitement at his arrival from Chelsea wasn't misplaced.

There have been rumours that he might not feature in Kevin Keegan's plans for next year, and at Newcastle, where nothing would really surprise, that's how most news is first heard. But Duff insists if that's the case then he's had no indication.

"He hasn't said anything to me," he says.

"I've had a disastrous time there," he concedes, "but I stand by my decision to make the move and I'd love to show everyone what I can really do next season."