Leeds frustrated by Viduka ban

Leeds caretaker-manager Eddie Gray insists it would have been "impossible" for Mark Viduka to play for Australia midweek, and is disappointed the striker cannot face Manchester United tomorrow.

Viduka, 28, is banned for five days after the Australian Soccer Association invoked a FIFA ruling designed to stop players pulling out of international matches without good reason.

The Yorkshire club feel hard done to, however, given that the former Celtic centre-forward was carrying injury niggles following a lay-off.

Such is the plight of the relegation-threatened Elland Road outfit, and indeed their lack of forward options, that Viduka was plunged straight into Barclaycard Premiership matches against Aston Villa and Wolves in quick succession, almost immediately after returning from compassionate leave to be with his sick father down under.

But Leeds’ medical evidence that their player was not fit enough to travel to South America and line-up against Venezuela was rejected by the Socceroos’ staff.

“He would have been okay to play tomorrow but he had to have treatment for a few days to get over those two games in such a short period of time,” said Gray. “That was the big thing because he hadn’t done any serious training when he was away.

“He is a big fellow anyway and he has to work to keep himself in trim.

“It would have been impossible for him to go and play there.

“He came back from seeing his father in Australia having not trained for three or four weeks and we threw him into two games because he is a vital player for us.

“He performed very well against Aston Villa and Wolverhampton and gave it everything.

“After the Wolves game his back was sore and his hamstrings were sore and he just said he couldn’t travel there and play. So as far as we were concerned that was that.”

Leeds have examined their options in light of the week’s events but with no appeal process in place, Viduka will not be involved in a fixture in which he has scored in each of the past two seasons.

“We can’t do anything,” Gray continued. “We have looked into a few areas but once the decision has been made it would have to be the Australian federation that could do something, nothing else would turn it.

“It would be up to them to come and tell us ’Mark Viduka can play’. Simple as that.

“Once they say he can’t play that is that for us, there is nothing else we can do.

“I am disappointed the boy is not able to play for us, it is a strange decision given the circumstances but that is up to the Australian football federation.

“They have made a decision which doesn’t help us in our situation. Mark is a big player for us, he is disappointed not to be playing, particularly at a place like Old Trafford, somewhere players like to go and perform.”

In Viduka’s absence, Alan Smith will lead the line and could be partnered by Lamine Sakho, who returns from African Nations Cup duty, although the latest set-back might also encourage Gray to temporarily scrap his plans to play 4-4-2 and bolster midfield.

Whatever he decides, Leeds, who halted a seven-match losing streak with the 4-1 success over Wolves, will have a mountainous task.

They have not won at the home of their roses rivals for 23 years and cannot have entered a match in recent times with less hope of altering that statistic.

However, Gray said: “Old Trafford, for our club in the last few years, has been a difficult place to go. We have not picked many points up there.

“But I don’t fear it. I look forward to it as a place to go and play football. It is a great stadium, a huge club, great players and the kind of game you hope your own players are looking forward to playing in. And they should be.

“There is a chance for us if we perform. I have got to believe that. Although realistically we know if we don’t perform to the best of our ability we are going to be struggling because they can play.”

With Paul Robinson suspended, highly-rated 18-year-old Scott Carson will make his full debut in goal, having played for England Under-21 earlier this week.

“I think he will be feeling great. What a place to make your bow. It is the kind of thing you are in football for,” added Gray.

“He is only young and goalkeepers generally mature later in their careers than outfield players but everything he has shown us so far makes us think he will be at least the equal of Paul Robinson.”