Cheltenham players do care - Duff

Duff's last injury-free season was five years ago

Cheltenham Town captain Shane Duff has insisted the Robins players are giving their all for the club.

The Robins are currently in a run of nine games without a win after losing 3-1 to Torquay in the FA Cup.

"Fans saying players don't care is the biggest load of nonsense I've heard," Duff told BBC Gloucestershire.

"The fans may not think so but the players need them 100% behind them. If supporters get on their backs it's a totally different feeling."

Duff added: "They don't see the players train hard every day and how distraught they are after a defeat."

Duff had an Achilles operation in September and is unlikely to play again until March. In the meantime, the club are using him to go and watch Cheltenham's opponents as a scout.

"It's nice to have the responsibility and to have some input," he said.

"I was at Torquay the Saturday before last, and last Saturday I watched Lincoln at Telford in the FA Cup, although the side that plays us could be quite different because they have seven players on loan at the moment.

"The injury is progressing well. I'm walking pain-free and doing lots of bike work and swimming. I keep telling myself that I'm being guided by the right people and to put my heart and soul into it because if I play until I'm 35 I've still got eight years left."