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Viduka contemplating playing comeback

Roar Guru
19th March, 2010
1

Socceroos great Mark Viduka is considering playing in the A-League, saying he is “in two minds” about whether to return to the game.

Viduka has not played in 10 months, walking away from several European offers at the start of this season and the Socceroos’ World Cup campaign for a hiatus from the sport.

But the 34-year-old striker opened the door to a possible playing comeback on Friday, saying he was contemplating whether to resurrect his career in Australia.

He said much would depend on whether he believed his body was capable of standing up to professional football again, as well as whether he could produce quality performances.

“I’m still in two minds (whether I’ll play again). I’m thinking about it,” Viduka told Fox Sports television.

“The A-League is … unbelievable. People are into it, it’s a credit to Mr (Frank) Lowy (Football Federation Australia chairman) and whoever set it up, they did such a good job.

“Whether I’m going to play in it or not, I’ll have to see. I’ll have to see whether my body can take it.”

Looking in reasonable physical condition, Viduka has spent much of the past 10 months in Croatia with his young family.

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His most likely destination should he return to play in Australia is new A-League franchise Melbourne Heart, who have spoken informally with the striker about the prospect of playing.

But Melbourne-raised Viduka would also be an enticing target for grand finalists Melbourne Victory, whose coach Ernie Merrick has had a long personal association with the striker.

Viduka admitted he had not had a real opportunity to sit down with Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek and discuss his reasons for taking a break from the game ahead of a World Cup year.

Viduka said he took time away because of his difficult run with injuries, coupled with some rare quality family time.

“Roy Hodgson from Fulham was very interested, but the thing that made me decide against that was I was on my holidays and it was the first time after so many years that I didn’t want to go back playing,” he said.

“My agent was ringing me all summer and I was trying to avoid going back. It’s something I’ve never experienced before – just relaxing.

“My last season at Newcastle I was injured a lot.

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“I loved playing football all my life and the last year, year-and-a-half of my career, not being able to do that was very difficult.

“I thought to myself my body’s trying to tell me something after all these years of taking it to the limit.”

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