Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff is confident he will be fit to face France in the first leg of the World Cup play-offs at Croke park on Saturday week. The Fulham player has been in contact with the FAI to reassure Giovanni Trapattoni he expects to recover from the Achilles injury in time to join up with the squad next week.
Duff limped off at halftime during the Cottagers win over Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday last and his manager Roy Hodgson cast doubt over his progress yesterday, when saying he was unlikely to figure against Wigan at the weekend.
However, Duff is confident of training tomorrow, in the wake of Fulham’s 2-1 Europa League defeat to Roma tonight, though it still appears unlikely he will face Wigan.
Trapattoni is already without fringe attacking players like Noel Hunt and Caleb Folan, but were he to lose Duff to injury Ireland’s chances of beating France over two legs this month would have to be dramatically revised.
As it stands, Trapattoni has no other worries but there is a weekend’s football to be played yet and the Italian will be keeping a close eye on some key players across the water.
