During his eight-year stay at Cheltenham, a long list of clubs came to Whaddon Road to run the rule over defender Michael Duff. However, none of those clubs were prepared to take the plunge and give Duff the chance to show what he could do outside League Two. Until last summer that is -when Steve Cotterill took over the managerial reins at Burnley, and one of the first things he did was to raid his former club to take Duff to Turf Moor. Duff has rewarded his manager's faith by becoming one of the success stories for the Clarets this season. GMF's Mark Shail is the man with the questions.
Q:YOU MUST BE DELIGHTED WITH HOW QUICKLY YOU HAVE ADAPTED TO LIFE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP?
A:It has been pleasing because it's quite a big step up from League Two to the Championship. We didn't have a big squad at the start of the season so I was given my chance early on, and I've now played some 40 games, which is a real bonus.
Q:HAS THAT 1-0 DEFEAT AT HOME TO WEST HAME IN MIDWEEK ENDED THE CLUB'S PLAY-OFF HOPES?
A:We've still got six games left and I suppose you would have to say the only way we can get back into the play-off mix is if we win all those matches. West Ham played well on the night, but the game had 0-0 written all over up until we gifted them a chance and Teddy Sheringham punished us.
Q:SO WHAT IS THE TARGET FOR THE NEXT SIX GAMES?
A:As I've said, if we win all six we would be there or there abouts – so we're not dead and buried. We're on 52 points and should be safe, so I would think Steve will be looking at the next six matches with an eye on next season and deciding in what areas he wants to strengthen the squad.
Q:YOU'VE DRAWN 13 GAMES THIS SEASON, DO YOU THINK ALL THOSE DRAWS HAVE ULTIMATELY COST YOU A PLACE IN THE TOP SIX?
A:We did seem to be the 0-0 specialists earlier in the season, but more recently we have been conceding more goals, but also scoring more as well. The manager has made a couple of signings in Ade Akinbiyi and James O'Connor and that has helped by giving us more attacking options.
Q:YOU CAN PLAY AT FULL BACK OR CENTRE HALF, WHAT IS YOUR PREFERED POSITION?
A:To be honest I don't really mind. I started my career as a right back, but for my last three or four years at Cheltenham I played as a central defender. Since arriving at Burnley I have been used predominantly as a right back, which is fine by me, I'm happy to play anywhere as long as I'm in the team. People have always said to me that I will end up as a centre half, but I'm 27 now and still playing at right back.
Q:WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FOOTBALL IN LEAGUE TWO AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP?
A:I think the higher you go the more likely you are to get punished for your mistakes. In League Two you might get away with the odd lapse in concentration, but at this level strikers are much more clinical in front of goal.
Q:ARE YOU ENJOYING WORKING WITH STEVE COTTERILL AGAIN?
A:He is has been the biggest influence on my career and it is good to be re-united with him and his assistant Mark Yates. I owe Steve a lot because he was prepared to take a chance on me when nobody else did.
