Viduka driven on by bringing Euro glory nights back to the Newcastle faithful

Magpies ambition: Mark Viduka

The 32-year-old Australian ended the last campaign on the treatment table with a persistent Achilles  problem, which he hopes will not ultimately require surgery.

But before he succumbed, he had teamed up with Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins in a three-pronged strike-force that did much to drag the Magpies away from the fight for Barclays Premier League survival.

The trio claimed 11 goals between them in seven games as Newcastle finally halted their winless run under new boss Kevin Keegan to increase optimism for the new campaign.

Managing director Derek Llambias and executive director (football) Dennis Wise and his team are currently working to implement Keegan's summer recruitment plans in an effort to ensure the club return to the upper reaches of the league table and once again challenge for European qualification and silverware.

Viduka, who experienced European football during his time at Celtic, Leeds and Middlesbrough, would love to do so again in a black and white shirt as he enters
the latter stages of his career.

He said: 'I have had great European nights in my career, but I would love to go back there with Newcastle.

'To be involved in European games at St James' Park would be something special.

'I would love to play in front of the crowd here in Europe because the fans are so passionate. It would really be something for me.

'I would love it to happen and that will be the aim - to get back in there next season.'

Viduka's last European action came in the 2006 UEFA Cup final when Boro's thrilling adventure was brought to a shattering conclusion by Sevilla.

The Australia international played a major role in the Teesside club's progression to the final as they staged remarkable fightbacks to see off first FC Basle and then, in a dramatic semi-final, Steaua Bucharest.

Newcastle played in the same competition the following season under Glenn Roeder, but their involvement ended at the quarter-final stage when they surrendered a 4-2 first-leg lead over AZ Alkmaar to go out on the away goals rule.

The Toon Army will endure a second successive season without European football
this time around.

But Viduka knows just how much qualification means to them and is confident that will prove a real motivation when the season gets under way.

He said: 'This club is all set up for European football. Hopefully, the results will keep going our way like they did at the end of last season. If we play like we did in the last third of the season, the results will continue to come.'