Schwarzer could follow Viduka out of Boro

Boro were today picking up the pieces after losing their 31-year-old leading scorer to their derby rivals yesterday.

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Manager Gareth Southgate, backed by chairman Steve Gibson and chief executive Keith Lamb, tried desperately to retain Viduka's services to re-affirm the statement of intent sent out by Jonathan Woodgate's £7million capture from Real Madrid.

However, speaking to journalists in Melbourne in the wake of yesterday's development, Schwarzer admitted Viduka's decision had given him food for thought.

He said: "I sort of half-expected it after they left it so long to negotiate a contract with him.

"I am disappointed with not keeping him, but whether or not I am going to look at my future now is another thing.

"It always does put a seed in your mind, an element of doubt."

Schwarzer's disappointment is perhaps understandable, and mirrors the emotions of the club in general, although the 34-year-old's own future on Teesside, in the short-term at least, seems assured.

Schwarzer signed a three-year contract extension in January 2005 amid speculation he could be a target for Manchester United and Arsenal after handing in a transfer request.

As the club's most senior player, Southgate will hope his keeper can be a unifying force as he attempts to find a replacement for Viduka, who scored 19 goals last season.

However, Schwarzer knows just how big a gap his international team-mate will leave after playing a major role in dragging the Teessiders away from the relegation zone at the end of the campaign.

He said: "It has been [hard] this last season with the type of players we have had at the club and, rather than accumulate new players and better players, we are actually losing better players.

"It is going to be a hard task for the manager and the staff to actually replace these sort of top-quality players and be competitive next season."

Viduka's departure, following the release of Malcolm Christie and Danny Graham, has left Boro with just two recognised strikers, Ayegbeni Yakubu and Dong-Gook Lee.

Nigeria international Yakubu failed to score in any of his last 12 games last season dating back to the 2-1 home victory over Reading on February 24.

South Korean Lee is yet to break his duck following his arrival from Pohang Steelers in January, although he came close in three starts and eight appearances as a substitute.

Boro are being linked with Arsenal's Jeremie Aliadiere and Diomansy Kamara among others, and the recruitment of a proven striker is now a priority.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old full-back Andrew Taylor has started his rehabilitation after undergoing surgery to remove a spur of bone from the big toe on his right foot, solving a problem which troubled him for much of last season.