Fulham (5/2 to win on match coupon) are capable of achieving big success with their style of football under Roy Hodgson, according to Damien Duff.

The Irish winger is preparing to return to the north-east for the first time since he left Newcastle when his side faces Sunderland (11/10 to win, 23/10 draw on match coupon) in the Premier League this afternoon.

Hodgson took Duff to Craven Cottage before the start of this season and the winger, whose goal secured Fulham a last-16 Europa League (Fulham 20/1 to win competition on outright coupon) tie against Juventus earlier this week, has repaid his faith.

Duff said: “It’s exciting times for a club which two years ago just escaped from relegation on the last day, so we’ve come a long way since then.”

“It’s hard to say how far we can go. Our mentality is to keep going, do the best we can in each game, try to be modest and stick to our game plan. That’s brought us some success and long may it continue.”

Fulham could be without top scorer Bobby Zamora for the game after he injured his Achilles in the Europa League game, but Nicky Shorey and Stefano Okaka (8/1 first goal scorer on match coupon) are available for selection against Sunderland.