Allardyce to unleash Viduka on Sunderland
Mark Viduka is back to lead the line for Newcastle United in Saturday's derby against Sunderland.
The burly striker – who has missed the past four games with a calf problem – is back in full training, and manager Sam Allardyce today confirmed that he will be in the Magpies' squad for the visit to the Stadium of Light.
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And Viduka is almost certain to return to Allardyce's starting XI, the only question being whether there is also a place in the team for Obafemi Martins, who started last Saturday's game against Portsmouth from the bench with Michael Owen and Alan Smith having been paired up front.
Allardyce said: "Mark Viduka's back in training and will be in the squad. He's available for selection on Saturday."
Viduka's return could be a lucky omen, the 32-year-old having been in the Middlesbrough side that beat Sunderland 3-0 on his last visit to Wearside.
Allardyce only other injury concern is Cacapa, who is carrying a hamstring problem.
However, even if the defender proves his fitness, Allardyce might keep Cacapa out of the firing line after hauling him off just 18 minutes into the 4-1 Pompey loss, his errors having gifted Harry Redknapp's side their second and third goals.
Asked whether Cacapa was carrying an injury in the Portsmouth game, Allardyce said: "He had a slight hamstring, but he said he was perfectly OK in the last two days of training.
"But he just looked laboured to me, and of course, by the time I'd decided to make the substitution, they'd scored three goals.
"Certainly for the Benjani one, I'd have just expected him to have dealt with that quite comfortably, but Benjani pushed him off the ball.
"I have to say it was a terrific finish, but we should never have let him get into that position.
"It's the same with the third – just a straight-forward, basic defensive situation."
Allardyce will definitely be without midfielder Nicky Butt, who will serve a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Pompey.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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