Viduka In For Derby

By Tyne -Talk
November 1 2007

Newcastle Striker Mark Viduka has set aside the North East derby with Sunderland as the date he intends to return to the fold. Australian international, Viduka has been suffering a calf injury and had originally pencilled in this weekends match against Portsmouth to come back.

Sam Allardyce gave the following statement on the Official Newcastle website

"Mark is struggling and he won't be involved against Portsmouth, which is obviously frustrating for him and us,

I think he's paying the price for a long hard season with Middlesbrough and then going off to play for Australia in the Far East over the summer.

That appears to have taken a lot out of him and that is why he has struggled to stay fully fit.

It was a demanding schedule for him in the summer in difficult conditions and, unfortunately, we have paid the price for that.

The Sunderland game would be a good one for him to return for, particularly if he scores.

I don't see any reason, at this stage, to think that he won't be available for that because he's pretty close now."