Newcastle United's Mark Viduka is set to miss Australia's summer World Cup qualifiers because of an Achilles problem. The 32-year-old, who has been a major part of the recovery inspired by new manager Kevin Keegan in recent weeks, has been playing with an injury which it is understood could require surgery at the end of the campaign.

He is expected to be available for the club's final two Barclays Premier League fixtures, against Chelsea on Monday and Everton on the final day of the season.

However, Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has resigned himself to being without Viduka for the qualifiers against Iraq twice, Qatar and China in June as they attempt to secure their place in the 2010 finals in South Africa.