Viduka shelves retirement plans

1 min read 13 September 2006

Qantas Socceroo striker and World Cup captain Mark Viduka has reportedly shelved plans to retire from international football after talking with caretaker coach Graham Arnold.

While the Middlesbrough star never actually said he would retire from international football, he gave several indications after the World Cup that it might be his last involvement with the national team.

However Viduka revealed to the Boro website www.mfc.co.uk as part of extensive interview that after discussions with Arnold he will still be available for future games.

Viduka said in the interview: "It is a big commitment playing for Australia because there is such a lot of travelling and it means being away from the family and not being able to able to concentrate fully on playing for your club.”

His immediate future with the national team is unclear though as his wife is due to give birth shortly and he has said he wants to be with her at this special time.