Duff a playboy? More like a choirboy

The financial benefits of his move from Blackburn Rovers to Stamford Bridge seem immaterial to him. His passion is solely football and anything that detracts from his ability to play the game well is frowned upon.

A Roman Catholic upbringing on the south side of Dublin's River Liffey taught him the difference between good and evil and a man called Pat Devlin, manager of Bray Wanderers, has since taught him the value of combining a choirboy image with a sweet left foot that could peel a grape. A former painter and decorator, Devlin has successfully guided Duff 's professional career from Lourdes Celtic to Blackburn, where Kenny Dalglish signed him as a 16-year-old, and from there to Stamford Bridge.

"Pat recommended me to Blackburn but if you ask me to name the biggest influences in my career it has to be my parents," he said.

Now installed in a luxury apartment in the Chelsea Harbour complex while he searches for a house, he still calls home to Dublin every day, talks regularly to his four brothers and sisters, and delights at the prospect of his 'ma' coming to London to do 'the shopping and the shows'.

Since his £17million transfer much has been made of the dramatic change to his lifestyle. He's exchanged a country cottage in the Ribble Valley for the frenzy and noise of the King's Road, traditional stamping ground for generations of Chelsea stars.

"People seem to think that I'm some kind of country hick who spent all my time in the hills above Blackburn," he said.

"That's just rubbish. I'm an Irishman and I enjoy a good night out and what have you - - but only at the right time. I've come here to play football. Everything else can wait its turn, can't it now?"

When we met the other day we tried to think of Chelsea's other great Irishmen but couldn't get much further than Tony Cascarino, Andy Townsend, Paddy Mulligan and John Dempsey. His own hero is George Best and he traces his affection for Manchester United and Celtic to his father Gerry.

"I'm reading George Best's life story at the minute," he said.

If he's impressed by the reputations of his new team-mates - Juan Sebastian Veron, Marcel Desailly, Emmanuel Petit, Adrian Mutu etc - he shows little obvious sign of it.

"I'm trying to stay relaxed about the whole thing," he said. "It's been a hell of a month for me. To be honest it took me a week just to make up my mind to join Chelsea. I was quite happy at Blackburn but the chance of playing in the Champions League was appealing."

Duffer, as he's known throughout Ireland, is famous for his easy-going outlook on life. Brian Kerr, the Republic of Ireland manager, claims that he suffers from Adhesive Mattress Syndrome because he can sleep anywhere, anytime and generally looks as if he's just got out of bed.

Duffer takes it all in good spirit. "Yes, I sleep a lot," he said. "But I read a bit, have the odd night out, a game of golf or snooker or what have you."

Much time has been spent in bed recently recharging batteries drained by twice-daily training sessions.

Claudio Ranieri and his medical staff have devoted time and energy to strengthening the hamstrings that have caused Duff such problems. Even so, last season he scored nine goals in 26 Premiership matches for Blackburn.

Can we assume there's more to come this season? "I would like to think so," he replied. "Dean Saunders brought me along leaps and bounds at Blackburn.

"I want to keep improving. I'm going to work hard and make a success of this."

When I asked him to name his favourite wide players in the modern game there was no mention of youknowwho from Old Trafford, though he clearly admires Ryan Giggs.

At one time Manchester United showed an interest in Duff but their enthusiasm cooled as Chelsea's grew.

His favourite players, it transpires, are Luis Figo and Robert Pires. "They play in similar positions to me, do similar jobs and what have you," he said.

"I like to study both and learn from them. That Pires is a class act, to be sure. Pace, goals, everything . . . he's got everything, hasn't he?"

If young Duff is saddled with the burden of expectation, it doesn't show. "There's no point in getting uptight is there? I can only do what I can do.

"Hopefully, I will play against Liverpool. They have big Irish connections. I have friends and family who support Liverpool. I've always enjoyed playing against them."

Will he go to church before the match at Anfield on Sunday? "I'll try," he smiled. "I try to go to Mass every week. I'm a believer.

"I try to keep my feet on the ground. My best mates are all my old friends from home. I value things like that. Compared to some people, I've been very fortunate. Some mornings when I'm driving into training I think 'Damien Duff, you're a lucky lad and all'."

And, before I could mention my lovely daughter, he was off in his Mercedes sports coupe with a Celtic emblem hanging from the rear view mirror.