Last updated: 6th December 2008
Viduka: Successful comeback against Boro
By his own admission he was going back to Australia at the end of the season and turning it in, but hopefully he has changed his mind.
Kinnear on Viduka
Quotes of the week
Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has admitted he thought experienced striker Mark Viduka's career may have been over.
Prior to last weekend's appearance against Middlesbrough, the Australian hit-man had spent the previous six months on the sidelines with an Achilles injury
Viduka suffered no reaction from his first Premier League appearance of the season and Kinnear believes the talented striker still has one more season left in him.
Newcastle are currently languishing at the wrong end of the table and former Nottingham Forest manager Kinnear knows Viduka's return has given everyone in the dressing room a lift.
"To be honest, we thought Viduka was probably finished," admitted Kinnear.
"We thought his injury was a lot more severe, but he seems to have made a miraculous recovery.
"By his own admission he was going back to Australia at the end of the season and turning it in, but hopefully he has changed his mind.
"We certainly think he has got another year in him.
"He has not had any reaction to playing on Saturday and he is fine. We really thought his career was in the balance and that's why he went to Australia.
"Fair credit to him he has worked extremely hard to get back into shape.
"There's a bigger buzz about the club now that he is back, because he is a big player with a big personality in the dressing room."

A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes his surprise to Manchester United.
Pictures from the unveiling of Real Madrid's reported £56 million signing at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Pictures from the Under 21 championship semi-final between England and Sweden in Gothenburg.
Pictures from England's draw with Germany in the last Group B game of the Under 21 Championships.
A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes his surprise to Manchester United.
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs West Ham |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Birmingham vs Portsmouth |
| 19:45 | Burnley vs Man Utd |
| 19:45 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Tottenham |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Chelsea |
| 19:45 | Wigan vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Liverpool vs Stoke |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Everton |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Blackburn 0 - 0 West Brom | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Man City 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Sunderland 2 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Fulham 0 - 2 Everton | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 Stoke | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Liverpool 3 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Monday 18th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 3 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 17th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| West Brom 0 - 2 Liverpool | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Bolton 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Stoke 2 - 0 Wigan | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Tottenham 2 - 1 Man City | |
| Everton 3 - 1 West Ham | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Arsenal | |
Skysports.com takes a look at striker Michael Owen's career to date following his Man United switch.
Skysports.com assesses Michael Owen's possible free transfer to Manchester United.
Cristiano Ronaldo says that if Real were willing to pay £80million for his signature then it is a 'fair' price.
Fiorentina are open to the sale of Felipe Melo to Arsenal, while Karim Benzema turned down the chance to join Man United.
Wolves have made their sixth signing of the summer after bringing in Marseille defender Ronald Zubar.
Michael Owen is confident he will have the last laugh after his move to Old Trafford drew some criticism.
Real Madrid-bound striker Karim Benzema has revealed he turned down the chance to join Manchester United.