Viduka was denied a dream return for Newcastle United in Saturday's goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium by former team-mate Ross Turnbull, who saved a late effort on goal.

But the 33-year-old – who had not kicked a ball for the club since May – was just relieved to be back on the field after a frustrating time on the sidelines with an Achilles problem.

However, Viduka – whose Newcastle career has been badly hit by injury – is taking nothing for granted.

"I'd love to stay fit until the end of the season," Viduka told the Echo.

"Achilles injuries are complex things, and if I can get myself to playing week in, week out without getting a reaction, that would be great.

"Then I just want to get back to the business of scoring goals.

"It's great to be back and just nice to get on. It could have went either way, and it was an end-to-end game.

"There was a lot of passion in it, and it was a very quick game. One goal could have won it, and that is how derby games are normally settled.

"The last few occasions the teams have met have been really close, and this one was similar.

"For my chance late on, the ball came in from Jonas (Gutierrez), and I went to volley it in. I think in the end I stopped and lost my momentum, and it wasn't the best of chances."

There was a chance Viduka's problem would need an operation. In the end he did not, and while his rehabilitation has taken longer than he had hoped, he was relieved not to go under the knife.

He went on: "There was a chance I could have had an operation, but I didn't want that because I could have been out for nine months, and I don't need that at this stage of my career.

"But I didn't expect to be out for six months though when it first happened.

"I was playing with the injury for a while, and it just got worse and worse. I thought I could try to get through to the end of (last) season, but it got worse and worse.

"We tried to avoid an operation. I couldn't afford nine months out at this time in my career."

While Viduka – who left Middlesbrough last year on a free transfer – was jeered by the home fans on his second-half introduction, he was given a rousing reception from Newcastle's 4,000-strong travelling contingent.

"It was nice that our fans getting behind me, but I can understand the Boro fans getting a bit upset," said Viduka.

"The Geordie fans, to me, are unbelievable. During this time that I have been out people have been so supportive of me, and I'd like to thank them for that."