Duff turns to judo to be proper fall guy

Damien Duff took up judo earlier this season to put his injury nightmare behind him.

The Chelsea winger, who twice dislocated his right shoulder last season, missed the beginning of this campaign following surgery.

According to the new edition of Nuts magazine, Chelsea physio Mike Banks was convinced that Duff's shoulder problems were brought on by him falling awkwardly and arranged for the Republic of Ireland international to have several sessions with British judo star James Lutman.

"Duff and I did about six sessions over two weeks at the national judo academy at Bisham Abbey," Lutman said. "It was a real honour. I'm a big Chelsea fan."

In the first of the sessions, Duff learned the basics of falling properly.

"I taught him how to distribute his weight evenly and not stick his arm out," Lutman added.

"Over the two weeks, I got him to do the falls harder and faster. When we'd finished, he could do a break-fall running at full pace - which was lightning quick - and he could fall properly when I threw him.

"He's had no problems since and I've seen him do a number of textbook rolls in matches."