Damien Duff's return to football has been put on hold after a reserve team game he was due to play in was cancelled last night.

The Republic of Ireland international is back in training after recovering from a dislocation in his foot suffered at Portsmouth in April.

He was to line out for the reserves against Manchester United but the pitch at Northwich Victoria was waterlogged following heavy rain in the north-west of England.

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce insists Duff must play a handful of reserve games before being considered for the senior team.

"We're looking forward to having him back in the first-team squad, because Damien is a player of undoubted class who can play a big part for us this season," said Allardyce.

The 28-year-old Dubliner, therefore, plays no part in tomorrow's Premier League encounter with Birmingham.

"It was an horrendous injury. I was the only footballer to ever get it," said Duff.  "It's a case of taking things one day at a time because I have had my foot up all summer."

Duff, who has had two operations on his injured foot, has managed just 20 league appearances for the club since his €7 million transfer from Chelsea in July last year.