Damien Duff

Former Blackburn, Newcastle and Chelsea man Damien Duff will not retire from international football

Fulham star Damien Duff will not announce his international retirement.

The Republic of Ireland winger picked up his 100th cap at Euro 2012 and had been tipped to retire from international football.

“At the minute I’m still an Ireland player,” Duff is quoted as saying in The Sun. “I never brought it up that I was thinking about retirement.

“I’ve spoken to Giovanni and Marco and at the moment I’m still available.”

The 33-year-old insisted that his age was not an issue and intends to carry on playing at a lower level, when his time at the top comes to an end.

“There’s speculation just because of my age. I’m 33 years old, but I feel as good as ever. I feel 23,” Duff declared.

“Listen, I’m going to play until I drop. I don’t think I’m interested in anything else. Fulham, Ireland, if I end up in the Airtricty League, the Leinster Senior League.

“I’m going to do all that. You may laugh but that’s the plan, it’s on my list.

“I’m just going to play until I drop so I have to look after myself to do that.

“I asked Andy Cole if he was missing it and he said, ‘No, not at all; but I’d be the polar opposite. I live for football and have since I started kicking a ball.”