DAMIEN DUFF has suffered an injury setback just days before his planned return and the Rovers winger admitted: "I am gutted."

He is also upset that his place in the Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-off squad might now be in question having battled his way back to full fitness.

Duff has not played since he limped off against Everton with a hamstring problem and he had pencilled in Monday's match with Leicester City as his comeback date.

But today he admitted: "I pulled up in training on Wednesday with a twinge and when I had a scan yesterday it showed a bit of fluid on the injury, saying: "That has put me back a few days and I just hope it is not too long. This is such a big season for me and the rest of the team and I have already missed some big and important games.

"In truth this has been a big week for me. I thought I was fit and in with a chance of starting but now I am out. I just hope it settles down and I will have a chance of playing at Southampton next weekend.

"I did not do anything yesterday, just spent it on the treatment table."

The recurrence of the injury has come at a very bad time for the 22-year-old who is desperate to be involved in his country's World Cup play-off against Iran or the United Arab Emirates next month despite the current bombing campaign in Afghanistan.

"The manager, Mick McCarthy rang me the other day to ask how I was and I told him I was fully fit," he said. "He does not know about the latest injury because he is out there watching the play-offs.

Iran took a slender 1-0 lead after the first leg of the play-off in Tehran ahead of the second leg which will be played next Wednesday.

"I am desperate to play in the play-offs as they are the biggest games for the country in years," he said.

"I know that some Chelsea players did not want to play in Israel because of the trouble in Afghanistan but I can tell you, I don't have to ring around the other lads to know if they are ready to fly to the Middle East.

"I can tell you now, everyone will want to play. We just want to get out there and play for our country, it will be a great honour to be involved.

"I haven't even thought about not going, I have absolutely no problem with it.

"Whenever I have been fit I have been in the Irish squad and it was nice to hear from him, to know he was keeping an eye on my fitness. It is a couple of weeks until the first leg of the play-off so I hope I will be ready."

Duff has passed the 20 cap mark having made his debut against the Czech Republic three years ago.

It is clear that the threat of bombs and terrorism will not stop him from representing his country - it remains to be seen whether his latest hamstring problem will.