Viduka is out the squad again for this weekend's game against Portsmouth as his calf injury continues to defy treatment.

He last played for United on September 29 when they lost 3-1 to Manchester City. Until then, Viduka had been enjoying a rich vein of form, scoring regularly for his side.

Now though Allardyce has laid the blame for the chronic injury at Australia's door.

"I think he’s paying the price for a long, hard season with Middlesbrough and then going off to play for Australia in the Far East over the summer," he told the Newcastle Journal.

“That appears to have taken a lot out of him and that is why he has struggled to stay fully fit. It was a demanding schedule for him in the summer in difficult conditions and, unfortunately, we have paid the price for that.”

He added: “Mark is struggling and he won’t be involved against Portsmouth, which is obviously frustrating for him and us.

“The Sunderland game would be a good one for him to return for, particularly if he scores. I don’t see any reason, at this stage, to think that he won’t be available for that because he’s pretty close now.

“We’ve maybe brought him back a little quickly in the past and, by giving him another week’s training before picking him, we hope that will mean he’s in better shape in the long term.”