Duff all set for Aussie life

DAMIEN Duff will be the star name on the team sheet when Melbourne City arrive at SportsDirect.com Park tomorrow for an intriguing friendly clash.

The former Fulham winger (35) took the plunge last month in making the decision to relocate to the other side of the world with his wife Elaine and children Woody and Darcy.

Twice a Premier League winner with Chelsea, Duff’s task is to play a major role in lifting the club formerly known as ‘Melbourne Heart’ from the doldrums.

Last season, they finished rock-bottom of the A-League.

This time around, having been bought out by the owners of Manchester City — and with the help of New York City’s Spain international David Villa, who is set to join on loan in October — sights have been set much higher than that.

A training camp at City’s Carrington headquarters is preparing John van’t Schip’s squad for the rigours of their upcoming season which gets underway in three months’ time.

Duff played in a behind-closed-doors game against Bury at the temporary base this week, his first taste of action in a Melbourne shirt ahead of a campaign he hopes will ignite.

“I’m going for the football,” Duff insisted, having ended his stellar English career at Craven Cottage.

“I’m going to work hard and to win things.”
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