SUCCESS has been a bit thin for Damien Duff recently. Now the Rovers winger is hoping that being a bit thin will bring success.

The slimline 22-year-old was going nowhere as a heavyweight last season. But the loss of a stone in weight has made all the difference.

And now he is looking forward to a diet of Premiership football next season.

Duff, back in the Republic of Ireland fold, said: "Graeme Souness coming in at Blackburn has got the best out of me again.

"I'm enjoying playing and that wasn't the case as the club slipped out of the Premiership. Nobody could enjoy that. It is the only place to be.

"The First Division is a hard league. We don't want to hang around too much longer there and we've got a good chance of promotion this season - hopefully - starting with a win against Burnley tomorrow."

Duff has shed the stone in weight since tough taskmaster Souness took over at Ewood Park a year and he is starting to feel the benefit of his new, trim figure.

"I've always been a big eater and found it difficult not to pile on the weight," said Duff on the eve of tomorrow's big televised East Lancashire clash with big derby rivals Burnley.

Bad news for Rovers is that ex-Bolton striker Nathan Blake broke down again on his return from injury just as it seemed he was set to return to action.

Remaining fixtures: April 1 Burnley H, 4 Sheff U H, 7 QPR A, 11 Fulham H, 14 Stockport A, 16 Huddersfield H, 21 Wolves A, 24 Grimsby A, 29 Portsmouth H, May 2 Preston A, 6 Gillingham A.

Blake has made just one substitute's appearance for Rovers since the 2-1 defeat at Fulham in October due to Achilles and thigh injuries. But the 29-year-old's hopes of a comeback have now had to be shelved for a further two weeks after he broke down again in training.

"He's going to be another two weeks which is a blow because I'd hoped to have everyone fit," said Souness.