BEING crowned North West Championship Footballer of the Year capped a day of celebration for Burnley's Michael Duff.

The Clarets defender collected his prize at the inaugural North West Football Awards just hours after having his leg brace and cast removed.

It was a big stepping stone on the road to recovery for the 28-year-old, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a horror knee injury he sustained against Crystal Palace last month.

Beating ex-Preston North End striker David Nugent to scoop the honour, meanwhile, came as an added boost.

"It was a bit of a pick-me-up I suppose," said Duff, who was also shortlisted with Preston's Matthew Hill for the public vote.

"I've had a tough time with injury and I'm still waiting for the next operation, so it's been frustrating. But that was a nice boost.

"I was surprised to even be nominated to start with, so even more so to win it, especially with Nugent getting his move and playing in the Premier League.

"So it was a good day all round on Monday because I had my brace off in the morning, and my cast.

"That gives me a little bit more mobility now, so I can go to the pool and do a few more things that I couldn't do before to try to strengthen it ready for the next operation."

Duff, who has already gone under the knife to repair a lateral ligament and hamstring tendon, is due to have a second operation early next month to repair a severe cruciate knee ligament injury.

"As a result, he admitted he has been restricted to making short-term targets.

"My long-term target is to play for Burnley again, but short-term is the next operation, getting off crutches, running and then getting the balls out," said Duff, who is contracted to the Clarets until 2010.

"I have to get my next operation out of the way so right now it's a case of strengthening the knee up for that by getting all the fluid out of it and getting it in as good a shape as possible.

"I'll be in the pool every day and on the bike.

"It's all non-impact stuff because the better the preparation ahead of the next operation, the better it will be coming out of it.

"After that, I can get back to walking and jogging and then, finally, running.

"It's all stage by stage, but I know I'm in good hands with the physios here.

"Mitch (Andy Mitchell) has already been giving me short-term goals and it just keeps you motivated, because I realise it's going to be a long time before I'm going to play again. Having those goals keeps my mind healthy."

It is not uncommon for long-term injury victims to feel out of the loop, but Duff has paid tribute to his team-mates for helping to keep him in a positive frame of mind.

"With the cast on, I had one bad day where it was quite sore and it can feel like it's the end of the world.

"But you walk into football changing rooms and it's a good place to be," he said.

"In general there is always a bit of banter flying around, but the lads here have been brilliant.

"I go in and see them all before training, we have a laugh and a joke, I go to the gym, and then everyone has dinner together after training.

"I'm mixed in with the lads, so it's been good."