A few years back I can remember Damien Duff agonising over whether he should move to our near-neighbours from his beloved Blackburn Rovers.
It was implied that he was reluctant to move away from the serenity of his life in the north-west countryside adjacent to the Ribble Valley!
As we all know, Duff eventually took the lunge and even though it galls me to say it, performed admirably in our near-neighbours pursuit of the Premier League title.
On moving to Newcastle, reportedly rejecting advances from Tottenham Hotspur, it was believed that Damien would return to the comfort zone that northern life brings.
But, reading between the lines, it seems that Damien yearned for a return to London having never sold his property here and putting his football satisfaction before his roots.
In quotes that are emerging, after he signed for Fulham, Damien bemoans the fact he ever moved to Newcastle, commenting,
“I was very keen to get away from Newcastle. It has been a tough three years there.”
“I gave my all but didn`t really enjoy my football. Relegation was heart-breaking. I played for four managers last season alone.”
Perhaps the fact it was Damien who scored the goal that saw Newcastle relegated, an own goal, played heavily on his mind.
But, in joining Fulham, he has renewed his acquaintance with a former mentor, in Roy Hodgson, a man who he has only the utmost praise for, remarking,
“Roy`s a top notch coach.”
Damien`s always struck me as a quiet lad who prefers to let his football do the talking; however, it is nice to see that he isn`t too afraid to speak his mind.
Once again, welcome to Fulham Damien, may your career in our white shirt blossom.
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