Lifeline for Viduka
Mark Viduka could remain at Newcastle beyond the end of the season, manager Alan Shearer has revealed.
Australian international Viduka is set to be involved for the first time in seven weeks when Newcastle travel to Tottenham on Sunday in search of crucial points to boost their Premier League survival bid.
A string of injuries this season have restricted Viduka to just one start and five substitute appearances, well short of the number of games the 33-year-old requires to trigger a 12-month contract extension when his current deal expires in the summer.
It has been widely expected the former Melbourne Knights striker will see out the remainder of his career by returning to Australia in a bid to earn a place in the national squad for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.
But, intriguingly, interim manager Shearer, who is expected to be confirmed in the role long-term at the end of the season, has refused to rule-out the possibility of Viduka staying at St James' Park for the 2009-10 campaign.
He said: "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'.
"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."
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