Rapid Solicitors

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Viduka ready for Shearer mission

by Luke Edwards, The Journal
Apr 18 2009

Shearer would love to see the former Middlesbrough striker, who is one of the club’s top earners, make a similar impact this term. He said: “He’s got talent, there’s no doubt about that. People will have

their thoughts on him, but my thoughts are he’s a very good footballer if we can get him out on that pitch.

“He’s had a decent weeks training and, all being well, he’ll be in the squad. It was around this time last season that he came back in, played with Michael and played a big part in pulling the club away from trouble.

“If we can get something out of him between now and the end of the season it could be key. He’s shown a great attitude and pushed himself hard.

“He travels with us to Spurs and hopefully he’s in the squad. He’s been in early every morning and does extra work every afternoon. It’s a fine balance of trying to get him fit without pushing him too hard.” Viduka’s two years at St James’s Park have been largely disappointing because of his fitness record. He has started just 22 games, scoring seven goals, making it almost impossible for the club to justify giving him a new contract at the end of the season.

Significantly, given the fact he is supposed to only be filling the manager’s position until the end of the season, Shearer has told Viduka they will discuss the contract situation again in the summer. In the meantime, Newcastle’s new manager is delighted that Viduka is willing to play with some pain against Spurs – in contrast to Obafemi Martins .

He added: “A one-year contract? That’s something we’d have to look at come the end of the season. I’ve said to Mark ‘look, we want you fit for the remaining games then we’ll see what happens after that’. His injury needs managing, but the pleasing thing is he wants to try. He wants to give it a go. I don’t know whether anyone is ever 100% fit nowadays with the number of games you play and the pace of a match. In a way, he will have to play through the pain barrier. We know it will be difficult to get him 100% after all his problems. But I’d rather have him available at 80% than not at all.”