Source: Eurosport
Viduka could return next month
Mark Viduka could yet play a role in Newcastle's relegation fight as he prepares to return from his latest injury lay-off.The 33-year-old Australia international has managed just six appearances in total this season and only one start, and with Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins also having endured significant spells on the sidelines, the club's striking options have been severely limited.Former boss Kevin Keegan threw all three men into the team at the end of the last campaign and was rewarded with a rush of goals which eased the Magpies away from trouble.However, this time around, the need is even greater following a depressing descent into the bottom three.Martins scored - after missing a first-half penalty - in Saturday's 3-1 home defeat by Arsenal, while Owen was used as a substitute as he fights for match fitness after an ankle problem.Now Viduka is nearing the stage where he can contemplate a comeback from a troublesome Achilles problem, and caretaker boss Chris Hughton is hoping he can make a big impact.Hughton said: "Mark is still in rehab and he's still one that we are assessing."We are hopeful he will be back in two weeks - that is if he has no setbacks."Mark's one who, because of the type of player he is, whatever period he's back for, it will be a good thing."However quickly we can get him back, it's worth it because of the type of quality that he has."But we are also wary that it's a balancing act of being fit and being ready for the rigours of the important games."Viduka, who will not be offered a new deal when his current contract expires at the end of the season, last played for the club as a substitute at Bolton on March 1, and his only start of the campaign was at Wigan on Boxing Day.However, while he will not make Chelsea's visit to St James' Park on April 4, he could be involved again later next month.Midfielder Joey Barton is some way behind the striker in his recovery from a fractured metatarsal, but Hughton's more immediate concerns lie with defenders Steven Taylor and Sebastien Bassong.The pair suffered ankle and groin injuries respectively at the weekend and although the former Tottenham defender has not given up hope, they are unlikely to be involved against Chelsea.That would leave him with a choice between pairing Fabricio Coloccini with first-choice right-back Habib Beye in central defence and dropping Ryan Taylor into the back four, or asking Brazilian utility man Claudio Cacapa or youngster David Edgar to take over in the middle.Cacapa, 32, has not started a game since November, but his experience makes him a genuine candidate as he fights his way from from a knee problem.Hughton said: "Depending on what we have with Bassong and Taylor, he may figure."Sometimes it's about 'needs must'. If he's in a position to be fit - injury-free - of course he will come into the reckoning. I would be talking about bringing him into the squad."I'm reasonably confident that one of the two - Bassong or Taylor - will be fit, but it's 'needs must' sometimes."Cacapa is a very experienced player. Sometimes it happens that you bring players back in before you expect them to be ready - it happened with Habib Beye on Saturday."In an ideal world, we would have given him another week, but he's a quality player and an experienced player, and he can do that."[LNB]
