VETERAN defender Michael Duff is determined to show that age is just a number by retaining his place in the Burnley team throughout the Premier League season.

The 36-year-old’s chances of starting regularly in the Premier League this season did not look high when Burnley prioritised the addition of a centre half during the summer.

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The Clarets made several unsuccessful attempts to prise Craig Dawson away from West Bromwich Albion but were unable to bring in a central defender in time for the start of the new campaign, allowing Duff to resume his successful partnership with Jason Shackell.

The pair have impressed to such an extent that even Michael Keane’s arrival on loan from Manchester United has not come close to dislodging Duff from the side.

Keane could now face a spell on the sidelines as a hamstring injury picked up playing for England under 21s on Friday night is assessed. But whether Keane is injured or not, Duff says his hunger to perform well at the highest level remains as strong as ever.

“I’m just happy to be playing,” said the long-serving defender.

“People will make things of my age and people will make things of other people coming into the club but I just look after myself, concentrate on myself and focus on staying in the team.

“Keano is a good player, I’ve seen enough of him in training, but if I’m honest I don’t really need other people to motivate me now.

“I think if you need motivating in this league there’s something wrong with you.

“For the age I am, I still have a lot of goals and ambitions that I’m looking to try and hit.

“As soon as we took stock from last season, preparing for this season you wanted to play the games.

“Luckily I’ve managed to start the season and stay in the team.

“I feel I’ve done okay during the games and I’m enjoying it.”

Duff is close to completing his final coaching badge, the UEFA Pro Licence, and is keen to stay in the game when he does hang up his boots.

But he is enjoying playing so much that he is not thinking about retirement just yet.

“Hopefully I’ll have finished my Pro Licence by the end of the month and then it’s just a case of getting hands on a bit more,” said the former Cheltenham defender.

“It was something I was looking to do last year, but there were so many games that I wanted my rest day to be my rest day.

“I’ve managed to get all my badges done while I’m still playing, which is something I’m quite proud of.

“It’s what I love, I want to stay in football and I wouldn’t still be playing if I didn’t love it.

“I’m getting to an age where most of my mates have now retired and a lot of them said they didn’t enjoy getting up for training every morning.

“It’s something I still enjoy. I don’t see why anyone else would not want to do it.”

Duff is the only player remaining from Burnley’s last campaign in the Premier League in 2009/10, which ultimately ended in relegation after manager Owen Coyle departed for Bolton Wanderers halfway through the season.

Another member of that 2009/10 team, Clarke Carlisle, recently told the Lancashire Telegraph that he felt the current side had a better structure from which to build as they bid for Premier League survival.

Duff said: “I can see where he’s coming from, I still speak to Clarke quite a lot.

“I think it’s hard to compare the two teams and the two leagues, but I can see where he’s coming from in regards to there’s a real structure to the way we play.

“With Coyley there was a little bit more just go out and play and see what happens maybe.

“You’d have to ask the people above me whether the club’s in a better state now but there’s a good blend in this squad, there’s a bit of experience and quite a lot of youth.

“Everyone helps each other. The young lads keep the older boys energised and we try to help the young lads if we can.

“The West Brom game was a kick in the teeth but a real learning lesson for the squad because I feel in every other game apart from that we’ve played well and deserved a few more points than we’ve got.

“West Brom was a real marker that in this league you can’t turn up and expect to get things because it doesn’t matter who you play in this league, they’ve all got the ability to hurt you.”