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World Cup my top goal, says Australian star Viduka [Sun Sep 18th, 2005]
Australian international Mark Viduka will stake his claim for a place at the next World Cup by leading the fight for Middlesborough both at home and in Europe.
The Australia marksman had a hand in the crucial second goal during the midweek 2-0 UEFA Cup win over Xanthi when his shot was deflected in by Jacques Paviot, and he heads for Wigan tomorrow hoping to build on his two goals for the season.
Viduka, 29, suffered a frustrating first campaign at the Riverside Stadium when injuries limited him to just 10 minutes of football between Boxing Day and the end of the season.
However, having regained his fitness, he is determined to rediscover the form which made him one of English football's most dangerous strikers during his time at Leeds.
"My ultimate goal is to play for my country in the World Cup, so I have to keep my form and fitness," he said. "It is always difficult playing in a European game and then playing at the weekend, but all the big clubs have to do it."
Viduka was partnered in attack by the club's record signing Massimo Maccarone in midweek, but with new signing Aiyegbeni Yakubu having been rested and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on the road to recovery from a thigh injury, there is competition for places.
Having played his part against Xanthi, the former Croatia Zagreb player will hope for another chance to impress, but he is taking nothing for granted.
"I don't even know if it was my goal - obviously I would prefer it if it was mine," he said. "I hope to keep my place for Sunday, but it is up to the gaffer."
Steve McClaren used the full extent of his squad in midweek - even with Fabio Rochemback ineligible and Hasselbaink, Gaizka Mendieta, Chris Riggott, Szilard Nemeth, Stewart Downing, Stuart Parnaby and Tony McMahon injured, he was able to rest skipper Gareth Southgate, Franck Queudrue and Yakubu.
All three should return at the JJB Stadium - Southgate has a minor back problem - as Boro attempt to claim a third victory inside a week after igniting their domestic campaign with last Saturday's 2-1 home win over Arsenal.
However, 'keeper Mark Schwarzer has warned that they can take nothing for granted against Paul Jewell's promoted side, who welcome Boro also sitting on two successive wins.
"I always say that the three teams who get promoted from the season before are always the three hardest teams to play at the beginning of the season, and Wigan are no exception," he said.
"They have shown so far that they are more than capable of causing upsets and they have done that so far. We have got to be well on top of our game and make sure we play to our strengths and make sure we win the game.
"Paul Jewell did very well at Bradford City for a long period of time and he has now been at Wigan for quite a long time and he has taken them miles forward.
"He did an unbelievable job last season in getting them promoted and he is going to do his utmost to keep them there."
The Teesiders earned their place in this season's UEFA Cup by finishing seventh in the Premiership, and they have high hopes of improving upon that this time around.
They have had a mixed start to the new campaign, but Schwarzer knows if they are to push into the top six they need to be winning games like tomorrow's.
"That is what it is all about," he said. "You end up at the end of the season looking back at results and looking back at performances.
"We need to make sure that for us and for where we want to go, where we want to end up at the end of the season, we need to beat teams like Wigan, no disrespect to them.
"We need to be performing at our highest level and get these results."
AAP
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