DAMIEN Duff is ready to jump from the frying pan into the fire when Blackburn Rovers go searching for precious survival points against Liverpool at Ewood on Saturday.

The young Irish winger returned to training at Brockhall yesterday and was delighted to swap the oppressive heat of Nigeria for the furnace of the Premiership relegation struggle.

And, with Callum Davidson and Keith Gillespie suspended, Duff could well have a role to play in manager Brian Kidd's plans as the struggle to stay up intensifies with every game.

He is certainly glad to be back in the old routine after having a few days break at home in Dublin following the Republic of Ireland's second round exit from the World Youth Championships at the hands of hosts Nigeria.

"It's great to be back in Blackburn and it's a big game for us on Saturday," said Duff who confirmed he was fit, despite being substituted in the Republic's final match.

"Yes, I'm grand. I went off because I was exhausted.

"It was just too hot out there.

"We played the first three games in something like 30 degrees and it was very humid.

"For the last match it wasn't as humid but the temperature was around 40 degrees.

"We were one of the best teams in the competition and if we had played the game against Nigeria over here I am sure we would have beaten them."

Kidd felt that Duff would benefit more from a few days off than being plunged straight back into match action and training after a trip that few of the participants had relished beforehand.

The Rovers star was no exception.

Apart from losing the two men through suspension, Kidd will also have to check on the players carrying injuries before finalising his squad, notably Stephane Henchoz. Davidson's absence would have left the manager without a recognised full back in the club if it had not been for Gary Croft returning to training this week following his recovery from a dislocated shoulder.

It depends now on whether he is considered fit enough to step straight back into the side. Other options - especially with Duff available - include switching the ever-willing Jason Wilcox to left back.

But Duff could also be handed Gillespie's attacking role.

At least Rovers do still have something of a choice, especially as Christian Dailly returned to the squad last Saturday.

Liverpool lost their second home game in succession, 1-0 to Leicester last night, with Kidd an interested observer.

That meant he missed Manchester United's victory in Turin but Kidd described the result as a "magnificent achievement for English football".

Meanwhile, a newpaper report that FIFA were planning to force through legislation which would hand players complete freedom of movement brought a forceful reaction from Ewood chief executive John Williams.

"If such a thing happened it would create utter chaos," he said about the report on the subject which has already been tagged 'Bosman 2' in the national Press.

The report claimed that players would be able to demand transfers even if they were on long contracts, with new laws enabling either players or clubs to terminate contracts whenever they wanted.

The only thing to settle would be the transfer fee and fears were expressed that it would completely destabilise the game.

But Williams explained: "There have certainly not been any discussions or negotiations through our formal networks about anything like this.

"We have to accept that the ongoing move towards freedom of contract is a fact. And we would be foolish if we did not recognise that the individual rights situation will be tested further and further in our business."

Rovers' two Academy teams will face Nottingham Forest on Saturday in the second round of the knockout competitions.

The under-17s take on Forest at Brockhall (kick-off 11am) and the under-19s visit Forest (11am).

Former Ewood winger Stuart Ripley has received a three-match ban after being sent off in a Southampton reserves match for an attack on Swindon's Sol Davis.

Rovers' two Academy teams will face Nottingham Forest on Saturday in the second round of the knockout competitions.

The under-17s take on Forest at Brockhall (kick-off 11am) and the under-19s visit Forest (11am).

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