Newcastle winger Damien Duff has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury. The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international limped out of Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth.

And, following an x-ray, manager Glenn Roeder has admitted Duff will be unavailable for the rest of the season.

"While an x-ray has shown there is no break, Damien has a badly swollen ankle and our medical people tell us that he will not be able to play again this season," Roeder told the club's official website.

"It's bad luck for Damien coming at a time when he was beginning to show the sort of form we have been looking for from him."