BLACKBURN Rovers boss Roy Hodgson is on the warpath, heading for a potential showdown with the Republic of Ireland FA over talented Ewood starlet Damien Duff, writes PETER WHITE.

The young left winger is due back this weekend, after representing Ireland in the European Youth Championship finals in Iceland.

Hodgson had tried to withdraw him from the tournament but the Irish insisted one of their top young stars be included.

But the manager is furious over a suggestion Liverpool had been allowed to pull a player out.

Duff has missed all the pre-season build-up at Brockhall, because of international commitments.

After his exertions in the World Youth Championships earlier this summer, he had only a two-week holiday before going back on international duty with the under-18s.

And Hodgson said: "It's a shame for him but the Irish FA have been intransigent and insisted he went with them.

"I have also heard that the Irish FA were not allowed to take a Liverpool player and, if that is true, I am very angry about that.

"If Liverpool were allowed to pull a player out of the squad, then we should have been allowed to do that.

"I shall be talking to people at the Irish FA about it. I asked for him not to go but they insisted that the UEFA rules, and this being the European Youth Championships, made it obligatory for him to attend.

"We accepted that but I have to check if it is true."

After making his debut in the final Premiership game of last season, Duff was expected to step up his challenge for a first team place under Hodgson.

His fitness is no problem but he has missed all the other work that the senior squad have been involved in for the past month.

He helped the Irish to the semi-finals of the tournament but they lost the third-fourth play-off to Spain on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Hodgson's main concern as Rovers prepare for tomorrow's final pre-season friendly against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane (kick-off 3pm) surrounds striker Chris Sutton. He had to spend a couple of days in hospital with a stomach virus which will rule him out tomorrow but Hodgson is hoping that it will clear quickly so as not to affect his availability for the opening Premiership match.

There was better news about players such as Henning Berg, Martin Dahlin and Ian Pearce, who were all able to train yesterday.

And, as we revealed earlier this week, Colin Hendry is still in with a shout for next Saturday's big kick-off.

"He is remarkably well advanced," said the manager. "He has made incredible progress and probably could have joined in training.

"But we decided that he should do two or three days physical work because he has missed a lot more than the other players."

Ideally, Hodgson would have liked to have played what he felt was his strongest team tomorrow. But Tim Flowers will be missing, Tim Sherwood has a groin injury and is banned for the first three games anyway, and it's unlikely Sutton or Hendry will be risked.

The manager also has to decide whether to play Dahlin or any of the other players who have just come back from injury. They really need some match action.

Graham Fenton has been having talks with West Brom about a £1 million move. Hodgson said: "It's up to him and I think he'll want to go because he wants first team football and I obviously cannot guarantee him that here."

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