Damien Duff has admitted “I want to be right, I don’t want to come back and play like a muppet” (David Maher / SPORTSFILE)

Damien Duff sparked a lot of rumours when he appeared at Richmond Park on Friday for St Patrick's Athletic's 3-0 win over Longford Town.

The 36-year-old was analysing the game as part of his UEFA 'B' Coaching Badge course with the FAI rather than checking out his new team mates.

His mother was among those that was left confused by his presence in Inchicore.

"My ma was upset... she thought I was signing for Pats and I hadn't told her," he said.

"We were obviously there analysing the game, we then had to put a session on today relating to the game.

"Longford got pumped 3-nil, probably outclassed from start to finish. Unfortunately I got Longford attacking so I had to work on that this morning."

The former Blackburn Rovers and Chelsea star is hoping to join a team in the SSE Airtricity League and admitted that he has no affiliation with any club.

"I just wanna play football and hopefully, touch wood, get fit and get back on the pitch," he added.

The FAI course is proving difficult for the Ballyboden man who left school early to pursue a career as a professional footballer.

"Very tough, to be brutally honest. It's possibly the hardest thing I've ever done in my life," he said

"I've played against Messi at the Nou Camp, Ronaldo... it was easy playing against them compared to what we have been through this week.

"If you saw me coaching seven days ago and today, it's night and day.

"I have zero qualifications in life except for football, so I guess I'm not really interested in any other things but football. It was the next step really."

Online Editors