NEWCASTLE - Australia striker Mark Viduka could play a
big role in helping Newcastle United avoid relegation after
declaring himself fit for the Premier League run-in, interim
manager Alan Shearer said on Friday.
Viduka is expected to play at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, the
first of third-from-bottom Newcastle's final six matches of a
troubled season on and off the pitch.
"It's fair to say Mark probably wouldn't have played again this
season if things hadn't changed but just having him available to
play some part is great," said Shearer, who is in charge until the
end of the season.
"He was injured and not in a good condition and probably on his
way to Australia this summer because talks hadn't happened between
himself and the football club," he told reporters.
"It would have been a complete waste to just let him lie on the
treatment table looking forward to going back to the beaches in
Australia. That's what his plans were."
Injuries have restricted Viduka to a single start this season,
well short of the amount of games the 33-year-old required to
trigger a 12-month extension when his contract expires in June.
The Australian, capped 43 times for his country, has mustered a
modest 20 Premier League starts since moving from Middlesbrough on
a free transfer almost two years ago and has not scored for a
year.
Viduka was also jeered by Newcastle fans who accused him of
lacking commitment when limping off in the defeat at Wigan Athletic
on Boxing Day.
But Shearer, the club's record goalscorer, said: "If we can get
something out of him between now and the end of the season it could
be key.
"I asked Mark if he wanted to help play a part in us trying to
stay up and the answer was most definitely yes. He's shown a great
appetite to get us out of trouble which is what I'm looking
for."
Newcastle have 30 points, two behind fourth-from-bottom
Sunderland.
