Viduka feeling the strain

The former Dinamo Zagreb and Celtic hit-man was forced to leave the crisis-hit Elland Road club to return home last month after his father, Joe Viduka, suffered a serious brain problem.

The Australian international has returned to try and help The Whites get out of their desperate situation at the bottom of the Premiership table, with Leeds facing a crunch relegation battle against Wolves on Tuesday evening.

Despite the ongoing financial crisis at the West Yorkshire outfit, Viduka is struggling to deal with keeping in contact with his family at home while trying to stay focused on his job at Leeds.

"My father is getting better but because it is a brain injury, it is a very slow process," said Viduka.

"It is difficult, but I am in touch with back home all the time checking up on his progress.

"I'm not getting much sleep. I am a bit jet-lagged and I am waking up early in the morning to speak to the folks back home.

"There is no other option."

Viduka has been in determined mood since coming back from Australia, as he tries to rally his team-mates for the relegation battle ahead.

"We have all got to concentrate on the job in hand," Viduka added.

"The only other choice is to sit on our backsides and wait for relegation.

"It is a normal reaction when you are in this situation for heads to go down. People start feeling sorry for themselves.

"But the players know we're the only ones who can pull us out of this mess.

"I am fired up. It is a big task but it is not just for one player to do.

"The whole team has to work together and give 100 percent in every game and every training session."