I want to stay on at Newcastle, says Viduka

Mark Viduka has spoken for the first time of his desire to remain with Newcastle beyond this Premier League season after gaining a new lease of life under Alan Shearer.

After another largely frustrating, injury-riddled season, the former Socceroos captain has returned to the park and started to show his best form in recent weeks.

His man-of-the-match performance in the 3-1 win over Middlesbrough on Monday has given Magpies fans hope he could be the man to save them from relegation this season.

Viduka, who is off contract at season’s end, looked certain to leave the club under former manager Joe Kinnear, possibly paving the way for a return to Australia to join the A-League.

But the 33-year-old says he now wants to remain at St James’ Park and has urged the club to make new manager Shearer’s caretaker role a permanent one.

“I would love to spend some more time at this club,” Viduka said.

“That’s my personal thing. I would love to have good times here and with Alan Shearer as a boss, this club has a lot of potential.

“I have been here for two years and we’ve had five managers. I would say to whoever is in charge, keep Alan for as long as he needs.

“The fans love him, he is Newcastle through and through, he is a big personality, people respect him and the players respect him.”

Shearer has been strong in his support for Viduka since taking charge, both vocally and in team selections, preferring him in starting roles at times over strike partners Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins.

It’s the kind of support Viduka says he did not get from Kinnear even when was struggling with injury.

“When I had problems with my Achilles, I worked hard to get back but Joe Kinnear didn’t look like he wanted to use me,” Viduka said.

“When Alan Shearer came in, the first thing he said to me was, `are you up for a fight?’ and I am always up for a fight. I said `definitely.’

“I’m a massive fan of Alan’s … I admired him as a player, we play the same position and when someone with his personality and what he has done in the game comes and says, `I need you’, it lifts you.”

While both Viduka and Shearer’s futures are still unclear, Newcastle’s first priority will be preserving their place in England’s top flight.

They sit just out of the drop zone on for-and-against at the moment but have tough assignments against Fulham and Aston Villa in their final two league matches.