http://www.chelseafc.com/Player.asp?plid=1256

PLAYER PROFILES

Damien Duff


     Having put past injury problems more or less to one side, Damien's
second season at Chelsea was his busiest ever and certainly his most
successful, adding the Premiership and Carling Cup to the League Cup won
at former club Blackburn.


     Damien was a top box office draw in his first Chelsea season until he
dislocated his shoulder at Christmas, beginning a run of bad fortune that
all but ended his campaign. Already though the Chelsea fans had seen
enough to be more than happy with 2004’s record signing at ￡17 million.


     An exciting, old-style dribbler who is hard to shake off the ball,
Damien has an eye for a penetrating pass or cross and weighs in with his
share of goals too. Left-footed, he can operate on either flank or upfront
and is a true star for Ireland at international level.


     Like so many young players from the Republic, he left early for
England to seek his football fortune, joining Blackburn just turned 17.
Allowed time and space to develop in Lancashire, he made his international
debut two years later. The year 2002 was a massive one, winning the League
Cup and then making a mark on the biggest stage of all with a fine showing
in the Japan/South Korea World Cup.


     When Chelsea came calling a year later, many predicted Damien would
shun London to remain in the north. But he was ready for the challenge
which continued to stretch him at the beginning of last season as he
successfully forced his way into the starting line-up having begun the
season on the fringes.


     Jose Mourinho needed convincing that the mental side of his injuries
were behind him but having done that, his tandem wing partnership with
Arjen Robben became feared throughout the land with Damien making a
pleasant habit of scoring opening goals.