A case of the magpie sacrificing the silver perhaps as, in doing so, not only does he give up medals from the bench at Stamford Bridge, but also a Champions League place with late suitors Liverpool as he decided to opt for Glenn Roeder's blueprint over Martin Jol's work-inprogress at Tottenham. His reasoning has become the one frequent refrain from Irish players this summer: first-team football. For, in what has been a close-season of limited transfer activity for members of Steve Staunton's squad, the only way has been down.

Indeed it was while Newcastle were preparing to secure at least some glamour for Duff through their vital Intertoto Cup clash away to Norwegian side Lillestrom that their officials quietly went about finalising the deal. With the 27year-old winger widely expected to move to Tottenham over the past two weeks, on Friday night St James' Park officials made their shock announcement.

"The board of Newcastle United are pleased to announce that contracts have been exchanged with Chelsea for the transfer of Damien Duff. The player, having agreed terms, is currently undergoing a medical."

Duff had only a year to run on his contract but, having spoken already last season about his dip in form due to broken runs in the first team . . . and with opportunities set to be further limited this season due to Chelsea's new system accommodating recent signings Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko . . . Jose Mourinho revealed on Thursday that the winger had requested a transfer. "In my squad there are always a few I want to leave and a lot of players I'm desperate to keep. And there are always a couple of players I'd like to keep but I have no courage to keep when I can't promise they'll be playing 75 per cent of the matches. I like Damien as a player and as a person. I listened to him for a couple of hours and I could understand what he has in his mind. After that it becomes business.

He's such a good player we will do good business with another club."

That news naturally sent a host of managers across England scrambling over the desk for their phones. There's hardly a surplus of naturally left-sided wingers with Duff 's ability to run at people widely available in the game. Indeed, even after Newcastle's announcement, it emerged yesterday that Liverpool had also been granted permission to speak to Duff but were reluctant to propose a figure.

That day-long frenzy of inquiry, however, represents the sole spike on the chart this summer. Despite the fact we're at the height of the so-called silly season, speculation surrounding Irish players has been worryingly flat. Bar Duff, few members of Staunton's squad appear to have been earnestly sought out by Premiership clubs. Indeed, only John O'Shea and Steven Reid have troubled tabloid headline writers.

A partial explanation is that it's a World Cup year, with scouts' eyes naturally diverted to Germany over June and July rather than underperforming Irishmen in pre-season friendlies. Indeed, one of the more outlandish stories over the past few weeks was Barcelona's alleged interest in Australian Lucas Neill. In 2002, Gary Breen was afforded the same delusion of grandeur. Four years on, he's had to settle for a move from relegated Sunderland to promotion-chasing Wolves.

Certainly no step up the ladder.

And in that sense, Duff 's move has been symptomatic of the malaise affecting many Irish players. Of Steve Staunton's first two Irish squads, there are realistically 10 players that wouldn't benefit from a move . . . Shay Given, Paddy Kenny, Richard Dunne, Joey O'Brien, Steve Finnan, Steven Reid, Graham Kavanagh, Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane and possibly Aiden McGeady. The rest have been forced, or are being forced, to look below in order to revitalise their career. The most notable is Ireland's long-assumed successor to Stephen Carr at right back, Stephen Kelly. After doing no more than threaten to break into Spurs' first team for the past few years, the need for first-team football finally forced him to go down with Birmingham. He joins Clinton Morrison down there, while Liam Miller and Andy Reid may have to do the same.

Indeed, of the 12 Irish players that have made moves since the end of the season, only one, the promising young Jay Tabb, made any sort of upward move as he signed for Coventry in the Championship from League One's Brentford.

Apart from that, the only other good piece of transfer news for Staunton this summer has been the ongoing return of Colin Healy. Having left Livingston in May, he has at least impressed in trials for Ipswich. While his return to playing regular football will be welcome, Staunton can't have imagined so many of his other players . . . for very different reasons . . . have had the same worry.

THE TRANSFER TRAVAILS OF THE IRISH THIS SUMMER GOING?

John O'Shea (below) set for increased time on the bench at Manchester United as Alex Ferguson seeks to bolster his midfield and may even be used as a makeweight in a deal that would take Tottenham's Michael Carrick to Old Trafford Liam Miller United announced during the week that he would be allowed leave once they receive a suitable offer, but so far only newly promoted Sheffield United are said to have expressed an interest.

Andy Reid increasingly fell out of favour at White Hart Lane last season and only way out this summer appears to be a loan move to Leeds United. With Damien Duff opting for Newcastle however, Tottenham may want to retain him as back-up on the left side Steven ReidManchester United and Tottenham were sniffing following his performances for Blackburn Rover last season only for Mark Hughes to warn them off with the offer of a four-year contract Mark Yeates the 21-year-old Tottenham winger is being chased by Southampton, Norwich and Hull but with Martin Jol looking to retain him with a two-year contract, Southampton may settle for a loan deal Glen Whelan the 22-year-old midfielder has been transfer-listed by Sheffield Wednesday due to financial restraints after the Owls made Yoann Folly's loan move from Southampton permanent GONE Damien Duff possibly swapping European football for a guaranteed starting place as he moves from Chelsea to Newcastle for £10 million Stephen Kelly drops a division in search of first-team football as he joins Birmingham from Tottenham for £750,000. Fee may rise to £1.25 million depending on progress Alan Mahon signs for Burnley for £200,000 having finished the season on loan at Turf Moor from Wigan Gary Breen re-united with Mick McCarthy at Wolves after being released from Sunderland Kenny Cunningham a sideways move as he agrees a one-year contract with Sunderland following his departure from Birmingham as a free agent Stephen McPhail Cardiff City beat off considerable Championship interest to secure a three-year deal for the Barnsley free agent Paul Tierney the former Manchester United left back moves to League One side Blackpool on a free from relegated Scottish Premier league side Livingston Wes Hoolohan: makes the same move as Tierney after impressing in a trial Jay Tabb the promising 22-year-old midfielder makes Ireland's sole upward move of the summer so far, joining Coventry from Brentford for an undisclosed fee Mark Kennedy Crystal Palace sign the 30-year-old on a free from Wolves Richie Partridge the 25-year-old winger joins Rotherham on a two-year deal from neighbours Shef"eld Wednesday Richie Ryan the 21-year-old mid"elder moves to England's bottom division with Boston United after being given a free transfer by Scunthorpe