I Won't Be Duff Under King Kevin

Feb 3 2008

Newcastle V Middlesbrough

DAMIEN DUFF insists he will finally romp back to his best when Kevin Keegan brings the flowing football to Newcastle again.

The Irish winger has been a flop since his £5million move from Chelsea two seasons ago but has now recovered from a career-threatening foot injury.

And the 28-year-old hopes the St James' Park return of Toon hero Keegan will bring the best out of him.

Newcastle have failed to score in the three games since King Kev came back in a storm of publicity.

But Duff claims he'll soon have the team playing sparkling stuff - starting in today's derby with Middlesbrough.

He said: "It's great having Kevin about the place. He is such a positive person.

"It's good for me as a winger. I remember Keegan's first spell as Newcastle boss. They were seen as 'the entertainers' and were a top side.

"But we cannot think of the past - we have to get wins now."

Newcastle haven't won in the league since December 15 and Duff knows a derby defeat will see them sucked into the relegation battle.

He said: "The bottom teams are creeping up and we need points."

Boro could hand a debut to Brazilian hitman Afonso Alves after his £12million move from Heerenveen.

And boss Gareth Southgate has praised chairman Steve Gibson for bankrolling the club-record deal.

He said: "Criticism has been aimed at the chairman for allegedly not backing the team but this proves how lucky we are to have Steve.

"Other clubs tried to get in on the deal but Afonso wanted to come to Boro."