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Verbeek reveals Dukes dilemma

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14 May 2009 | 18:13 - SBS: Philip Micallef

Dilemma ... Pim Verbeek wants to know Mark Viduka's plans (Getty)

Coach Pim Verbeek has admitted he faced a dilemma whether to pick star striker Mark Viduka for the Socceroos' final three 2010 World Cup qualifiers in June.


Australia take on Qatar in Doha on June 7 needing a point to reach their second straight World Cup finals.

Viduka has made a strong comeback for his Premier League club Newcastle United after a long layoff due to injury.

But Verbeek won’t be rushed into picking him for the match in Qatar or subsequent matches against Bahrain in Sydney on June 10 and Japan in Melbourne on June 17.

“We’ve watched Mark several times,” Verbeek told a teleconference.

“We’ve always said that the moment Viduka gets fit and starts playing games we’d be interested because he’d always be on the list.

“But Mark is focussing completely on the Newcastle job. He wants to keep them in the premiership. He is very pleased with manager Alan Shearer and he’s doing well.

“But he does not want to make any decision about the Socceroos yet. Firstly, he wants to keep Newcastle in the premiership. Secondly, he has to find out whether he wants to play another year and thirdly, we have to find out if he is fit and ready to play for us.

“So this will be one of the last decisions we will make.”

Verbeek would love to have Viduka lead the Socceroos' attack that has often found goals hard to come by in this World Cup campaign. Viduka last played for Australia in the Asian Cup quarter-final against Japan in Hanoi in July 2007.

“Mark has a history with injuries and after May 24 he has to decide if he wants to play next season. At the moment he does not want to think about anything else," he said.

“But if he does not want to play another season after completing his contract with Newcastle then it would be useless to take him to Qatar in June.”

When pressed to confirm if the Viduka case had become a “the long haul or nothing” situation, Verbeek became circumspect.

“If he does not sign a new contract with Newcastle then there is a chance he does not want to play anymore,” he said.

“We can have a hundred different scenarios for this. He and I will not make a decision until the end of the season. That will be the moment to find out if he’s fit, ready and willing to play and if I’m still willing to pick him in the squad.”

Verbeek said he would pick a huge squad of more then 35 players that unfortunately won’t include veteran Craig Moore, who has not played since February, for the three matches that should seal Australia’s qualification for South Africa.

The Dutchman indicated that playmaker/striker Nicky Carle, who has been training with Sydney FC to stay fit after finishing his season with Crystal Palace, might be a chance to return to the squad.

“We really appreciate Sydney FC’s gesture,” Verbeek said. “A final decision will be made soon.”

Verbeek however shut the door completely on Newcastle Jets star Ljubo Milicevic’s aspirations. When asked if the colourful defender was in any of his calculations Verbeek replied bluntly: “No”.

When asked ‘why not’, his reply was even more dead pan: “I have some very good central defenders and I don’t think he’s better.”

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