Viduka won't go under knife
Leeds manager Terry Venables has allayed fears Mark Viduka requires surgery on an Achilles injury which could have ruled the striker out for months.
Earlier this week Viduka expressed his fears he may have to go under the knife due to him suffering tendonitis on both Achilles, with the Australia international vowing to play through the pain barrier.
The 25-year-old has witnessed at close hand just how devastating the injury can be as United team-mates Harry Kewell, David Batty and Stephen McPhail have all suffered from the same trouble in the recent past.
All three were eventually forced to have an operation which saw them sidelined for a considerable period, and in compatriot Kewell’s case, it took him a long time before he rediscovered his form and dazzling touch.
But Venables said: "Viduka’s fine. He was out for a couple of weeks in pre-season which slowed down his physical work, but it seems to be getting easier.
"He’s been quite pleased with it in the last couple of days, so it’s a bit early to talk about surgery. It’s not been near that.
"He’s not said anything to me, but maybe he was worried about it before. Perhaps it was in the back of his mind and that was what he was fearful of."
Venables will be hoping Viduka stays healthy with Robbie Keane due to join Spurs for £7m (€11m), Robbie Fowler out for another four weeks following his hip operation in the summer, and Michael Bridges still a fortnight away from his long-awaited return from injury.
