Duff is top North West player

Last updated : 13 November 2007 By Tony Scholes
Michael Duff
Duff was up against the two who played a part in Preston's failure to reach the play offs last season and was last night won this coveted award at a gala dinner in Manchester. The award is for the 2006/07 season and is fantastic news and a real lift for Duff who won't play for the Clarets again this season.

It is even better when you consider that during last season he was flitting between right back and the centre of defence and had good spells of form in each position. This was combined with some outstanding performances on the international stage with Northern Ireland.

Duff is facing cruciate ligament surgery in the very near future, and we wish him well with that. He won't be winning this event next year but he'll be hoping to be back in the Burnley side next season and collecting this award again in two years time.

The event was held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester and was a charity fundraiser for Manchester's New Children's Hospital Appeal.