DAMIEN Duff is in a no-win situation at the centre of a tug-of-war between Blackburn Rovers and the Republic of Ireland over next month's World Youth Championships in Nigeria.

Birthday-boy Duff, 20 today, is being torn apart by the conflict between club and country which still has not been settled.

And Duff admits his emotions are being "pulled all over the place".

The winger relishes playing for his country but he does not want to shirk his duty of helping Rovers to dig themselves out of trouble.

If he goes to Nigeria, Duff faces missing several crucial Premiership games between April 3-24. "I still don't know whether I am going or not but, at the moment, I haven't been pulled out," said Duff, who has been named in the provisional Irish squad.

"For the moment I am just happy to be here at Blackburn, it's the club that pays my wages and I just want to help them to do well.

"If I go (to Nigeria) I'll give 100 per cent but, obviously, there are a lot of risks going over there and I will be missing a lot of games for Blackburn. "There are some big games on the run-in to the end of the season and we will be fighting relegation. Hopefully we will get out of it and obviously I would like to be here to help the lads."

Duff first really blossomed in the last under-20 championships held in Malaysia two years ago and he explained: "I love playing for my country and it's a big tournament, the Junior World Cup.

"It all really started for me in Malaysia and I owe a lot to Brian Kerr (boss of the Irish under-20 team). If he picks me and I go, I'll do my best. I am not going to mess about."

The timing and venue of the tournament have both come under severe criticism, though with the Malaysia tournament being held in summer it meant that players such as Duff did not get a proper break between seasons.

It eventually resulted in him needing groin surgery.

"I think it's ridiculous having it in a country where there are so many problems and especially during the last month of the season," he said. "But there are arguments both ways and, last time, I didn't get a rest."

Health problems in Nigeria mean that the players expected to go have already started a course of treatment. And that could affect them even before the tournament starts.

"We were debating with the doctor whether we should get it done, it's not pleasant but I have had my first two injections," said Duff.

Rovers Reserves' Pontins League clash at Everton tonight, scheduled to be played at Widnes RL ground, has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

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