Viduka out for rest of season
Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka’s season is over after he suffered a recurrence of the hamstring problem which has hampered him since Boxing Day.
The 28-year-old Australian, who moved to the Riverside Stadium from Leeds last summer, made his comeback from hamstring and back injuries at Crystal Palace on Saturday after 17 games on the sidelines, but lasted just 11 minutes.
“Mark has suffered a recurrence of his hamstring problem,” said manager Steve McClaren. “It is hugely disappointing for Mark and the club, but he will not play again this season.”
The news represents the latest bout of injury misery for the Teessiders, who yesterday saw Dutch midfielder Bolo Zenden ruled out for three weeks with an ankle problem picked up during the trip to Selhurst Park.
George Boateng and Ray Parlour, like Viduka, returned from the treatment room at the weekend, but they came through unscathed.
Defender Ugo Ehiogu is close to a comeback while Michael Reiziger is working to shake off an ankle problem ahead of Saturday’s Barclays Premiership clash with Arsenal at the Riverside, but Joseph-Desire Job was today undergoing an operation to ascertain the extent of the knee injury he picked up on international duty with Cameroon last week and Gaizka Mendieta’s season ended before it had really begun.
