CHELSEA'S £17million wing ace Damien Duff has been helping pal Alan Mahon in his quest to get back into action for Ipswich.And Duff has been dispensing some bizarre advice – plucked straight from a popular nursery rhyme – in a bid to help Mahon recover from a hamstring injury.

CHELSEA'S £17million wing ace Damien Duff has been helping pal Alan Mahon in his quest to get back into action for Ipswich.

And Duff has been dispensing some bizarre advice – plucked straight from a popular nursery rhyme – in a bid to help Mahon recover from a hamstring injury.

Duff was in sensational form as the multi-million pound Blues demolished Sir Bobby Robson's Newcastle 5-0 yesterday.

And the Republic of Ireland star, a former Blackburn team-mate of Mahon's, has a special remedy recommended by his granny and endorsed in the Jack and Jill tale learned by generations of kids.

"He's even been giving me his grandmother's remedy of rubbing in vinegar with brown paper," said Mahon, on loan at Portman Road from Blackburn.

Mahon, who hopes to make his Blues comeback against visiting Sheffield United on November 22, admitted: "In fairness to Damien, I've even done the vinegar bit. It made the room smell like a fish and chip shop."

Fans' favourite Mahon has missed the last four games with a small hamstring tear and revealed that his return to running at an early stage has much to do with the dedicated work of Town physiotherapist David Williams.

But regular calls from ex-Rovers and Republic colleague Duff have also helped speed his rehabilitation.

Mahon said: "Damien is a great guy. He suffered a great deal with hamstring trouble when we played together at Rovers. He's advised me about various things such as stretches and stuff like that and he was adamant that I should try the vinegar and brown paper treatment."

Mahon, who like Duff hails from Dublin, played a big part in Town's rapid rise up the table after his move from Ewood Park.

He went off early in the televised 1-0 home win over Stoke and has missed the last four games.

"From my point of view, it's good that the Nottingham Forest game is off next Saturday and I've targeted a return to the squad for that Sheffield United match," said Mahon.

"I love it at Portman Road and can't wait to play again."

The popular wide-man added: "There was what they call a grade one, or smallish, tear in my hamstring. A bit of scar tissue is around it now and with more work it will go.

"I've started running again and hope to get back into full training early next week.

"The Sheffield game is a definite target for me, but I certainly won't rush things as Damien has stressed I mustn't. It's getting better and better all the time though and I'm delighted with the progress.

"The injury came when I was really in the swing of things with Ipswich and certainly enjoying my football. But there's light at the end of the tunnel now."

Experienced defender John McGreal did not make his return to the Town starting line-up in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Derby.

McGreal was an unused substitute and is expected to get in another full reserve game in the Premier Reserve League Southern Section encounter against Fulham at Woking on Wednesday night.