DUFFER’S MY WINGMAN Will knows Damien is top gun

THERE is a whole generation of Irish football supporters who only know of Damien Duff as a manager.

Many of the young fans now filling out League of Ireland grounds to capacity never saw the Shels boss drop the shoulder and slalom down the wing for club and country.

That’s Duff the Ireland ace, with 100 caps for the Boys in Green and two Premier League titles at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho.

For those at the other end of the age scale — and somewhere in between — it’s hard to fathom that his glory days are YouTube moments at best for so many.

It feels like yesterday that Duff (45) was casting his magic spell in green and blue jerseys. But of course, time waits for nobody.

Will Jarvis has a vague memory of seeing Duff on TV, playing in a Champions League game, but he was a nipper at the time.

Before his loan move to Shels last season, the Hull City man made sure to scour the internet of footage of his new boss.

Homework is vital when upping sticks and moving to a new country, but knowing your new manager was a bit of a big deal certainly helped sway the 21-year-old.

Jarvis arrived at Shels last July, on the back of the Tigers’ shortlived partnership and then takeover of the Drumcondra club.

Impact

Clubmate Harry Wood came with him and the pair made an instant impact, helping to drive Duff’s team to a fourth-placed finish and European football.

While Wood is now on loan at Grimsby Town, Jarvis has returned to Shels on another temporary deal and has just been crowned SSE Airtricity / SWI Player of the Month for March.

And as a winger himself, the Englishman has already credited Duff with taking his game to new heights in that short space of time.

Ahead of tonight’s derby clash with Bohemians, Jarvis said: “Since I’ve come here, the hints he has given me in terms of little movements has been so helpful.

“It’s just little turns and stuff he used in his games to make a career. Even in training and the drills we do, the gaffer will take the attackers for shooting or movement.

Honestly, he’s brilliant.

“I knew he was a great player back in his day. I was too young to remember most of his games but the game I do remember was against

Barcelona. Obviously I’ve had a little YouTube of the clips and I’ve heard he was a great player.

“The gaffer played the same position as I play and if I can’t learn off him, then I can’t learn off anyone.

“It was a big sway in the decision to come here and I’m glad I made that choice.” Jarvis admits he had no idea what he was getting pitched up in the League of Ireland last summer.

And Duff didn’t sugarcoat it either, spelling out that it was time to sink or swim in men’s football after previous loan spells at York City and Scarborough Athletic.

Standard

“The loan spells in England were at a lower level of football,” explained Jarvis. “The Irish league is a much better standard to what I played at before.

“Myself and Harry settled in well last year and we were both living together which was good in that sense.

“I hadn’t played overseas before and I didn’t have much experience in men’s football. I knew it was going to be tough and I was talking to the gaffer about it.

“He said it wouldn’t be easy as it’s a very misjudged league. The first two or three games, I quickly found that out.

“But the way we play and the way we try to move the ball, it just suits me.”

Sitting top of the table suits Jarvis just fine, too.

Duff has revived a sleeping giant and while nobody at the club is getting carried away after nine games, the players must believe they are contenders.

But the manager has stressed the need for hard work and makes no apologies for the high demands he puts on Jarvis and his teammates.

“Winning a game in the League of Ireland is amazing,” said Duff. “People take that for granted when they go home, but it’s so bloody hard to do so.

“When we get three points I think it’s the best thing in the world but the form has been going on for a while and it’s important we carry it on into round two.”

Ahead of another derby clash at Tolka Park tonight, Duff insists motivation won’t be an issue, even if one or two in the dressing-room need a gentle jolt.

“Emotion is a massive part of the game,” said the Shelbourne boss.

“It’s strange with our lads, sometimes you still need to prod them emotionally. I won’t mention names.

Derby

“Cool cats in there who may think it’s not a Dublin derby and they will just roll out. Others you still bizarrely need to get up for it.

“If I can compare the (derby) matchnight to one thing, you always felt the difference in the week building up to a competitive Irish game compared to a friendly.

“You could cut the tension all week in training. And you could say the same with Dublin derbies.

“Maybe not during the week but gameday, you can feel it in the air.”