Verbeek seeks Viduka's football World Cup commitment

Australian forward Mark Viduka, seen here in July 2007, during the Asian Football Cup in Hanoi. Viduka remains in Australia's qualification plans for the 2010 World Cup national coach Pim Verbeek said on Friday.

Mark Viduka remains in Australia's qualification plans for the 2010 World Cup and national coach Pim Verbeek said Friday he intends to talk to him next month.

The Newcastle United striker was not called on for Australia's backs-to-the-wall scoreless draw with China in Kunming last Wednesday, but Verbeek has not given up on trying to bring Viduka back into the team.

Viduka last played for his country in Australia's penalty shoot-out loss to Japan in the quarter-finals of last July's Asian Cup in Hanoi. He has yet to give a definitive answer on whether he is finished with international football.

But Verbeek, who squeezed past China without playing a recognised striker after a series of injuries and the eighth-minute loss of Archie Thompson in the Kunming match, intends to speak with Viduka next month.

He is hoping to get Viduka on board for a block of World Cup qualifiers home and away in June that will decide whether the Socceroos progress to the final Asian qualifying phase for a place in South Africa in 2010.

"I've always said that Mark Viduka is on my list and I will be travelling to England to find out his ideas about the future for the Socceroos," Verbeek told reporters here after returning from China on Friday.

"So far, he has not given me the idea that he's not interested anymore, so I'm looking forward to meeting him and to speak with him and find out if he wants to be part of us."

Verbeek said he was concerned about recurring injuries suffered by key players, Tim Cahill (foot) and Harry Kewell (groin), who both missed the Kunming game.

But he said one of the positives to come out of the scoreless draws against Singapore and China was the emergence of his less experienced players.

The Dutchman was particularly impressed with the development of Newcastle Jets defender Jade North, one of the few A-League players to play against China.

Verbeek said the draw in Kunming was a great performance considering the circumstances, with several injured players pulling out before the game.

He said there was now pressure on Asian Cup champions Iraq, who crashed to a a 2-0 loss away to Qatar in Doha in mid-week.

Australia lead their qualification group with four points after last month's 3-0 home win over Qatar and the draw in China.

The Socceroos' next qualifier is against Iraq, scheduled for Brisbane on June 1.