The Independent says Duff was mentioned in connection with a return to Blackburn Rovers as part of a proposed deal that would take Stephen Warnock in the opposite direction.

Newcastle offered £2m a fortnight ago for Warnock and raised that by approximately £1m last week, and Duff has been included in negotiations. A straight swap is a possibility.

Only last week, however, the Newcastle manager, Kevin Keegan, was talking up Duff's pre-season fitness but, with cover at left-back a priority for Keegan, Newcastle are prepared to do business with Duff included.