Leeds United striker Mark Viduka has committed himself to playing for Australia in their World Cup qualifiers.
Viduka, who scored 22 goals for Leeds United last season, says he is prepared to run the risk of upsetting United manager David O'Leary.
"I'm playing for Australia in the next World Cup qualifiers," Viduka told the The Australiannewspaper today.
"I don't know if they're happy about it, but I'm playing."
He could not say whether team-mate Harry Kewell, who has not played for Australia for two years following a club-versus-country rift, would be available for a two-legged qualifying tie with the fifth-placed team from the South American Group - likely to be Uruguay or Colombia - in November and December.
But the player who has signed a new contract keeping him at Leeds until 2006 on weekly wages of 60,000 US dollars, says he will also make himself available for a friendly at home against world champions France in November.
AFP