Source: SKY_Sports
Hodgson confirms Duff medical
Roy Hodgson has confirmed Damien Duff has travelled to London for a medical ahead of his proposed switch to Fulham.
Sky Sports News had earlier reported that the Newcastle midfielder was travelling to the capital this weekend to complete the switch.
And while Hodgson says they have still to reach an agreement with either Newcastle or Fulham, he said he was confident of completing the signing in the near future.
"I think he's been allowed to come down and he's having a medical," he told Sky Sports.
"If all goes well I'm hoping the details will be finalised both on his personal contract and the details between ourselves and Newcastle.
"I'm hoping that will be finalised at the beginning of next week and, all being well, I'll be able to tell you he's a Fulham player next week.
"Until it's completed, it's better to be prudent, but I'm very hopeful we'll have Damien with us."
He added: "It's a long season and we've also got the European matches - at least two more of those - and there's the Carling and FA Cups, so there's going to be lots of matches.
"Last year we were extremely fortunate - we had so few injuries. I'm expecting this year to have to be without players occasionally and that's why we need the quality of people like Damien Duff to put into the team.
"Also, of course, for him to make life uncomfortable for the guys who've got the shirts at the moment."
Fulham began their Premier League campaign with a victory over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Bobby Zamora was credited with the only goal of the game as Clint
Dempsey's 13th minute shot took a severe deflection but, while Pompey arguably had the better of the match, Hodgson was pleased with his side.
"It was very good," he said. "We scored a fortuitous goal, of course, with the deflection, but that sometimes happens.
"After that, I thought we defended well throughout the game.
"It was a little bit nervous towards the end as these games always are because, in the opening game of the season when you're leading 1-0, the things are going through your mind all the time are 'Let's not lose this' and 'Let's make sure we've still got the three points at the end of it'.
"All credit to Portsmouth for doing their very best to get an equaliser, but I'm pleased we held out and pleased of course to start the season with three points from a difficult away game."
He added: "I thought it was a sterling effort from everybody really to work hard to keep what is a very talented Portsmouth team at bay."
