Even before he's kicked a ball in a Newcastle shirt, Damien Duff is being hailed as the bargain buy of the summer. Little wonder, given that Toon boss Glenn Roeder has landed the Republic of Ireland winger for a mere £5m - brilliant business in anybody's book. Duff hopes his move from Chelsea, where first team opportunities were limited, will revitalise his career, and it was the player's enthusiasm which convinced Roeder he had got the right man. "When I spoke to him a few nights ago his enthusiasm jumped down the telephone at me," recalled Roeder. "It was terrific talking to somebody who wants to play football as much as he does. I really felt what he was saying was from his heart and truthful. He sounded excited about joining us. That is important in signing players, that you really believe they want to come, and that's the feeling I got with Damien." Roeder insists Duff has 'nothing to prove to Jose Mourinho, or anybody' and the new hero of Tyneside agrees...
Q:WAS IT A BIG DECISION TO LEAVE CHELSEA?
A:I had a great three years at Chelsea which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I'd like to think they enjoyed me as well. But I just want to get back playing. I just want to play week in and week out because when I do that I am at my best. I'm not kidding anyone because I know I struggled in the second half of last season, so I guess I've something to prove to myself, but not to Chelsea. I'm the only one.
Q:IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN EASY TURNING YOUR BACK ON THE CHAMPIONS THOUGH?
A:I've had problems for the last three or four months because I didn't play enough. I just had a feeling that I wasn't guaranteed to play a lot this season. So I told Chelsea that if clubs came in for me I'd like to speak to them. Newcastle did and I'm happy to be here.
Q:PEOPLE ARE ALREADY DRAWING COMPARISONS BETWEEN YOU AND CHRIS WADDLE, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
A:I don't need to be compared to greats like that. I want to be my own man and play my own game. Hopefully I can become a hero like him, and I'm not saying I left Chelsea just to get worshipped. All I want to do is play football and be happy inside because I've not been happy for a while. I hope this is a place I can be happy.
Q:WHAT CONVINCED YOU NEWCASTLE WAS THE CLUB FOR YOU?
A:It feels special here. Playing here with Chelsea and Blackburn it was an unbelievable place to come as an away player, it's probably the most passionate place in England to play. That is one of the many factors why I wanted to come here.
Q:WITH OTHER CLUBS INTERESTED, DID IT TAKE LONG TO REACH A DECISION?
A:It took a couple of days. I spoke to the gaffer and the lads here like Scott Parker, Steve Carr and Shay Given but at the end I listened to my heart. Maybe there are a lot of Liverpool supporters in Ireland saying 'why didn't you sign for us' but my heart told me to come to Newcastle United.
Q:DID THE PASSION OF THE NEWCASTLE FANS INFLUENCE YOUR DECISION?
A:I've played here before. I know what the fans are like. They're special and they gave me a great welcome outside. It will be totally different playing in black and white than playing as an away player, so I can't wait for that.
Q:WHAT ARE YOUR IMMEDIATE AMBITIONS?
A:I'm here to play football, not to make friends. I'll be my own man, play my own game, and hopefully get off to a good start on Saturday and have a good five years plus at Newcastle.
Q:AND IN THE LONG TERM?
A:I hope we can bring success. Obviously we're not kidding ourselves, it's a massive job ahead of us and we know we're not going to be challenging for the Premier League this year. But I'm here for five years and hope to do great things.
