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Mark Viduka may have taken a step closer to returning to the Socceroos’ fold, joining them in Brisbane today as he turns to the national team’s medical staff to help him overcome a debilitating injury.
Viduka, who has not played for Australia since last year’s Asian Cup, met with medical staff at the team hotel in Brisbane today ahead of the Socceroos’ World Cup qualifier against Qatar on Wednesday night.
It follows the 33-year-old having scans in Melbourne last week on his troublesome Achilles, which has sidelined him from playing for English club Newcastle this season and could rule him out for up to six months.
Viduka has given mixed messages about whether he wants to commit to the Socceroos’ 2010 World Cup campaign, and has not played for Australia under Pim Verbeek.
It is believed he and Newcastle were keen to consult the Socceroos medical staff — considered among the best in the business — as they try to unravel how to fix an injury which has not responded to off-season surgery.
Newcastle said last week Viduka was likely to need more surgery, and both the club and the striker wanted a second opinion.
While treating his injury was the main priority for Viduka’s visit to camp, Verbeek is also certain to have canvassed Viduka about involving himself in the Socceroos’ World Cup campaign once fit.
That is an option which may now be more attractive to the former Soccceros skipper as he has played so little football of late.
Verbeek appears to be leaning towards pairing comeback defender Craig Moore with Lucas Neill in the heart of defence in his starting side against Qatar for the top-of-the-table Group A clash at Suncorp Stadium.
The Queensland Roar skipper was called into Verbeek’s 28-man squad for the World Cup qualifier just eight months after he had effectively retired from international football following a 3-0 win over Qatar in Melbourne in February.
Verbeek gave little away at a secret session this morning — youngster Matthew Spiranovic paired with Neill in match drills rather than Moore or rival Chris Coyne.
And Neill, Moore and fellow veterans Scott Chipperfield and Brett Emerton were missing from tonight’s session at Ballymore – all given light duties back at the team hotel, further suggesting Moore is being allowed to conserve energy.
Verbeek’s other dilemma is how best to replace absentee striker Harry Kewell and missing midfield trio Vince Grella, Carl Valeri and Mark Bresciano.
Part of the puzzle may involve left-sided David Carney earning a recall — in his more traditional position as a midfielder.
“At training I played as a left fullback with David Carney in front, so I guess that’s the way he’ll be wanting to play on Wednesday night,” Chipperfield said today.
“He played Spiranovic next to Lucas, so he didn’t want to give too much away, so I guess he’ll wait until the last minute before he decides whether it’s Craig Moore or Coyney.”
Coyne played alongside Neill and was one of the best on the field in Australia’s impressive 1-0 win over Uzbekistan in Tashkent last month.
But Verbeek dropped Coyne for the 3-1 win over Qatar in June’s World Cup qualifier following an equally impressive performance in the previous match.
Moore and Neill may be a more experienced and mobile pairing to deal with Qatar’s main threat, striker Sebastian Soria Quintana.
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