'Sweaty' Viduka Gives Up Holiday For Tyneside Return

So that is obviously bad news for Premiership defenders trying to mark him during the coming season.

On a more serious note, Viduka could play his first game for Newcastle United against Juventus next weekend as the Australian prepares to fly to Tyneside this week.

He was part of the Australia squad beaten on penalties in the quarter-finals of the Asia Cup by Japan on Saturday and, while the result was a disappointing one for the striker in terms of his international ambitions, it was good news for his club.

Had the Socceroos reached the final of the Asia Cup, Viduka would not have been expected to link up with his new teammates until the start of August, but the 31-year-old has knocked back the chance of holiday (which he is entitled to following the international competition) and will arrive back earlier than expected.

With Newcastle also hoping that Michael Owen will have recovered from the thigh strain which kept him out of the 1-1 draw against Carlisle last weekend, it could be the first chance for supporters to see the new look strike partnership in action against the Italians. And obviously Oba Martins will have something to say about that.