MARK VIDUKA has announced he wants to play for Newcastle next season, but only if Alan Shearer remains as the Magpies manager.

Viduka revealed that, under Joe Kinnear’s stewardship, he’d set his sights on jetting back to Australia when his current deal expires this summer.

The ex-Middlesbrough striker’s towering performance in Monday’s Tyne-Tees derby played a huge part in edging his former club closer to the Championship.

But it also served to strengthen Viduka’s resolve to extend his spell on Tyneside.

He’s now fighting to stay at Newcastle for at least one more season after his love for the game was given a kickstart by Shearer’s return to St James’ Park.

“I would love to spend some more time at this club,” admitted Viduka. “I would love to play here and have good times and with Alan Shearer as a boss. This club has a lot of potential.”

Viduka was in bouyant mood after helping secure Newcastle a first victory under Shearer.

The game marked Viduka’s rehabilitation with the St James’ Park faithful whose relationship with the big Aussie reached it’s nadir against Wigan on Boxing Day when his departure from the field was met with cries of “You’re not fit to wear the shirt.”

In the wake of the rousing reception he received on Monday when leaving the field in the 87th minute, Viduka’s affection for the home crowd was clearly overflowing. He noted: “People have been very, very friendly. They are really beautiful people in Newcastle.”

Mike Ashley was among the crowd that witnessed Monday’s crucial victory and Viduka urged the club’s owner to bring stability to Newcastle by tying Shearer to a long-term deal.

“I have been here for two years and we’ve had five managers,’’ he noted. “I would say to whoever is in charge, keep him (Shearer) for as long as he needs. That is my thinking.

“I think first of all the fans love him, he is Newcastle through and through, he is a big personality, people respect him, players respect him. Regardless of whether I stay or don’t stay, I would love to see this club having good times.

“I admired Alan as a player and he knows we play the same position and when someone like that comes, someone with that kind of personality and what he has done in the game and they come to you and say ‘I need you’ it lifts you, really lifts you no matter who you are.’’ Viduka has chosen to play for Shearer rather than undergo an Achilles operation that would have sidelined him for up to nine months and admitted: “Put it this way, a couple of months ago, I was in a situation when I had problems with my Achilles and Joe Kinnear didn’t look as if he wanted to use me.

“When Alan Shearer came in, the first thing he said to me was ‘Are you up for a fight?’ I am always up for a fight!”

The 33-year-old’s ability to hold up the ball was what Newcastle – and Boro for that matter – have lacked all season.

Viduka admitted he felt sympathy for his former team-mates.

“I was in a similar situation at Leeds and getting relegated is not a pretty thing,’’ he confessed. “It’s something noone likes. I saw some of the players I played with from Boro afterwards and I to tell you the truth I felt sorry for them really.

“I know exactly how they feel. I spent three good years at the Boro and I really don’t want to see them go down.

“We still have to win at least one more game but I feel sorry for them. Gareth (Southgate) is a top bloke and obviously a good coach as well.

“It really could have gone either way and when the crowd gets behind you – I remember playing here for Leeds and Boro – and when this crowd gets behind the team it is very difficult to play against.”

Asked if he felt he owed the Newcastle fans, Viduka said: “Owe is a big word but I would love to play here in good times.

“I experienced that a little under KK when we started to play really good football. I love the feeling going into a game knowing you are going to do some damage as a team, you know having that confidence.”

■ Newcastle’s reserves retained the Northumberland Tynetec Senior Cup with a four-goal demolition of Northern League Ashington.

Xisco opened the scoring after just 70 seconds in front of 1,796 at St James’ Park.

Xisco scored two on the night while Ben Tozer and Mark Doninger also netted.

Newcastle: Krul, Tavernier, Ferguson, Donaldson, Tozer, Lough (Taylor 40), Danquah, LuaLua (Doninger 68), Ranger, Xisco (Godsmark 54), Vuckic. Subs (not used): Ngo Baheng, Soderberg