Duff fears won't go away

The Republic of Ireland are sweating over the fitness of Damien Duff for their World Cup play-off against France.

The Fulham winger has been struggling with an Achilles problem but Giovanni Trapattoni had hoped to have him back for the double-header against Les Bleus, with the first-leg at Croke Park on November 14 with the return in Paris on the following Wednesday.

However, Duff is definitely out of Thursday's Europa League clash against Roma in the Italian capital and the signs are not good that he will return to Premier League duty at the weekend.

Boss Roy Hodgson has all but ruled him out of Sunday's trip to the north west to take on Wigan, along with Andrew Johnson and Danny Murphy.

"I don't think there's much hope for for Johnson, Murphy and Duff for the weekend," Hodgson said.

Last week, the former Blackburn boss had suggested that he saw no reason why Duff could not play for the Republic, if he was able to take on the Latics but that now seems unlikely.

France have injury problems of their own as playmaker Franck Ribery has been ruled out with a knee injury, while Gael Clichy has a back problem and has been sidelined for a month.