Although his club Blackburn Rovers have stuggled this season, Damien Duff's career has been on the up and up.

He was introduced to the public eye during the 1997-98 season, when he showed his promise as a winger by terrorising defences.

Lack of consistency was a problem the following season, but during the 2001-02 campaign Duff sprang back to life.

His energetic displays have won him the admiration of Republic coach Mick McCarthy and he is sure to be a potent threat at the 2002 World Cup.