Mark Viduka

[Freddy Adu]

Mark Viduka
Personal information
Full name	Mark Anthony Viduka
Date of birth	October 9, 1975 (1975-10-09) (age 31)
Place of birth	Melbourne, Australia
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Newcastle United
Number	36
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1993-1995 1995-1998 1998-2000 2000-2004 2004-2007 2007-	Melbourne Knights Dinamo Zagreb Celtic Leeds United Middlesbrough Newcastle United	049 0(40) 081 0(40) 037 0(30) 130 0(59) 072 0(26) 004 00(1)
National team2
1993-1995 1994-1996 1994-	Australia U20 Australia U23 Australia	024 0(32) 018 0(17) 043 0(11)

[D. Stankovic]

He played so awesome in Leeds, and pretty good in Boro, shame he left for the Toons.

[GloriousReds]

And he has helped your australian side a bit aswell. No i like that he went to a 'bigger club" he deserves it.

[D. Stankovic]

What a good start by Viduka, 2 goals against West Ham!

[GloriousReds]

Happ B'day Mark! Today he turns 32! Man i never knew he was that old!

[D. Stankovic]

Yeah, but he is fit as hell though.

[Freddy Adu]

Newcastle striker Viduka ponders international future

The Chronicle reports that Mark Viduka has taken a break from playing for his country - so that he can fire on all cylinders for Newcastle United.

But the 32-year-old striker insists he has made no decision on his international future with Australia.

The Aussies have a friendly against Nigeria at Fulham's Craven Cottage on Saturday, but Viduka will be back home resting in the North-East.

He said: "I am going to have a rest this time round."

Viduka has 53 caps and 11 goals for the Socceroos and he has been captain for the past couple of years.

And when asked if he had decided to bring the curtain down on his international career, he replied: "No I haven't. I have not been involved for the past few games and I'm missing this one out.

"But I don't know what I'm going to do. I will wait and see who the new coach is as everything is up in the air at the moment."

[Freddy Adu]

Viduka set to concentrate on Newcastle


Written by: AFP

	Newcastle´s Mark Viduka on the ball at the City of Manchester stadium in Manchester, north-west England, September 2007. Viduka saved Newcastle United from the ignominy of a second successive defeat against struggling Derby County after his 87th minute goal salvaged a 2-2 draw at St James´s Park.

NEWCASTLE, England (AFP) - Mark Viduka's enduring value to club and country is beyond question but it appears Newcastle United, indebted to the Australian for a brace against Derby County on Sunday, are winning a battle for the forward's exclusivity.

The former Middlesbrough and Leeds striker is preparing to turn his back on the Socceroos in the New Year to focus fully on the task of transforming the Magpies from a mid-table team mired in mediocrity into a side capable of sustaining a top six challenge.

Viduka’s decision could keep the Newcastle manager, Sam Allardyce, in a job and prevent United's supporters from deserting St James’s Park in their droves.

"Viduka showed the way forward with his finishing on a day when we've not converted nearly enough chances," said the Magpies’ manager, in the wake of his team's fortunate 2-2 draw with the Premier League's bottom club. "He had three opportunities and scored with two of them.

"Even though we nearly won it 3-2 we had two clear problems. Basic bad defending allowed Derby two shots on target which equalled two goals. We got something out of the game but I'm very disappointed with the result and the fact that we’ve not taken our chances. This was a game we should have won."

Viduka saved Newcastle from a second successive defeat by their struggling opponents with an 87th minute strike. Earlier, the experienced international had hauled United back into contention with the first half goal which cancelled out Giles Barnes’ brilliant opener.

However, Derby restored their lead seven minutes after the restart when Scotland international Kenny Miller capitalized on woeful defending. And County looked set for an incredible double over Sam Allardyce’s side until Viduka struck at the death.

"It hurts to concede a goal so close from the end,"said Derby’s shattered manager, Paul Jewell. His boyhood heroes and former club, Liverpool, visit Pride Park on Wednesday just months after thrashing County 6-0 at Anfield.

"The two goals Newcastle scored were shambolic from our point of view but that's been the story of our season so far.

"There's no doubt the players played with pride and passion and no little quality. But poor defending cost us. With a little bit of care and confidence we could have scored more against Newcastle and we have to make those chances count next time. As a side we're gradually improving but that improvement will have to continue against Liverpool on Boxing Day."

Newcastle travel to another of Jewell’s former clubs, Wigan Athletic, on Wednesday with the Republic of Ireland international, Damien Duff, in contention for a first start of the season. The former Chelsea midfielder managed 22 minutes against Derby but Allardyce admitted: "He is not yet ready for 90 minutes."

Newcastle’s England international Michael Owen may not be ready for first team football at all until the New Year as the forward continues his rehabilitation from a thigh injury.

No wonder Viduka continues to play such an important role for United.

"Mark is a massively important player for us," added Allardyce.

Without him Newcastle would have been facing Christmas on the back of one of the most humiliating results in the club’s recent history. With Viduka there is still hope on the streets of Tyneside.

[Freddy Adu]

Viduka wants to be Newcastle first choice


Written by: AFP

	Veteran striker Mark Viduka, seen here in action in September 2007, hopes his two-goal salvo against Derby will convince Newcastle boss Sam Allarydce that he should be a regular starter in the struggling Premier League side.

NEWCASTLE, England (AFP) - Veteran striker Mark Viduka hopes his two-goal salvo against Derby will convince Newcastle boss Sam Allarydce that he should be a regular starter in the struggling Premier League side.

The 32-year-old Australian took his season's tally to five from just nine starts with his brace in the 2-2 draw with Derby and now he wants to keep his place having been out of the side since November's home loss to Liverpool.

"Every player wants to play and it's been hard being out of the side," said Viduka.

"But I've been working hard in training and I know my qualities. I've been round long enough and I think everyone knows what I can do.

"I love playing football and I want to do well for the club and win back my place in the team," Viduka told the club's official website.

Newcastle are currently ninth in the Premier League and face second-from-bottom Wigan on Wednesday desperately needing three points after being booed off St James's Park on Saturday.

"After the game the dressing room was like we had lost the game," said Viduka whose goals were his first since the win against West Ham in September.

"Everybody was disappointed and even though we got the draw in the end we were disappointed because we should be winning games like that.

"Derby went out and played very well. They've been struggling for confidence but they were excellent. But if we want to be a top side we have to win games like that."

[Oscar Cardozo]

Veteran striker Mark Viduka hopes his two-goal salvo against Derby will convince Newcastle boss Sam Allarydce that he should be a regular starter in the struggling Premier League side.

The 32-year-old Australian took his season's tally to five from just nine starts with his brace in the 2-2 draw with Derby and now he wants to keep his place having been out of the side since November's home loss to Liverpool.

"Every player wants to play and it's been hard being out of the side," said Viduka.

"But I've been working hard in training and I know my qualities. I've been round long enough and I think everyone knows what I can do.

"I love playing football and I want to do well for the club and win back my place in the team," Viduka told the club's official website.

Newcastle are currently ninth in the Premier League and face second-from-bottom Wigan on Wednesday desperately needing three points after being booed off St James's Park on Saturday.

"After the game the dressing room was like we had lost the game," said Viduka whose goals were his first since the win against West Ham in September.

"Everybody was disappointed and even though we got the draw in the end we were disappointed because we should be winning games like that.

"Derby went out and played very well. They've been struggling for confidence but they were excellent. But if we want to be a top side we have to win games like that."