Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan has backed Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff to have his best season yet.

Duff has failed to make an impression in the two-injury plagued years since his GBP five million switch from Chelsea to Newcastle.

Duff scored a hat-trick in the Magpies' 4-1 pre-season victory over Hartlepool this weekend.

Keegan said: "The lad has never had a pre-season for three years.

"He has worked so hard in training, the running and the way he has worked with everything we have put on probably showed out there on Saturday.

"You have just got a draw a line under where he has been and just judge him from now, now he has had a chance to put a foundation into his season, which he hasn't had for three years.

"Any players who misses the pre-season, you ask any player, no matter how good they are, where they have played and what qualities they possess, it is very hard without that base.

"I think you will see a different Damien Duff this season. There were signs of that on Saturday, but obviously, there is more to come."