DAMIEN Duff today faced up to the prospect of missing out on Rovers' return to Europe after a punishing international schedule finally took its toll on his weary limbs.

The 23-year-old winger has been ruled out for at least a fortnight after a scan revealed a slight tear in the thigh muscle he damaged during Ireland's European Championship qualifier with Russia in Moscow on Saturday.

As a result, Duff now has no chance of featuring in the first leg of Rovers' UEFA Cup clash with CSKA Sofia at Ewood on Thursday week.

And that will come as a major blow to manager, Graeme Souness, who is currently gearing up for a hectic programme over the next few weeks.

However, Duff felt it was only a matter of time before an injury finally caught up with him after a gruelling fixture list which has barely incorporated a break since the back end of last season.

"I must admit that's what I was thinking when I first did it on Saturday," said Duff.

"Something has been coming for the last couple of weeks because my legs have felt tired.

"I suppose all the travelling and everything else that goes with it has finally caught up with me.

"But I'm just glad it's not something more serious because at first I thought it was my hamstring which would have meant me being out even longer."

Duff has certainly clocked up plenty of air-miles with Mick McCarthy and the Republic since he helped save Rovers from the drop last season.

During the summer, he was one of the stars of Ireland's World Cup campaign in Japan and Korea where he played in all four of their games.

Since then, he has also featured in a friendly against Finland in Helsinki, on top of four Premiership games for Rovers, before jetting out to Moscow last week for the start of the Republic's European qualifying campaign where he lasted

just 15 minutes of Saturday's game.

"I took a shot and just felt something go and I couldn't carry on after that," said Duff.

"I had a scan yesterday and the medical staff have said it's probably going to be at least two weeks so I'm just hoping it doesn't end up being any longer than that.

"Hopefully, I'll be back in time for the Leeds game and if not then West Brom but I'm gutted because it's a bad time to get injured."

As well as the UEFA Cup, Duff is also likely to miss Rovers' forthcoming Premiership games against Chelsea and Manchester City.

"It's a blow but that's part and parcel of football and we'll just have to get on with it," said Souness.

However, one man's loss is another's gain and that could open the door for either Keith Gillespie or Tugay to return to the starting line-up against Claudio Ranieri's Blues tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Ipswich boss George Burley has denied stories linking him with a move for Rovers defender John Curtis.

As I understand it, Rovers WERE contacted by a third party in regard to a possible move for Curtis.

But Town now appear to have cooled their interest after failing to off-load a number of players before the Premiership transfer window closed at the end of last month.