McDonald gives Verbeek something to think about

Scott McDonald continued his good goal scoring form of late with a goal in Celtic’s 2-1 FA Cup win over Queens Park, to once again give national coach Pim Verbeek something to think about before the crucial World Cup qualifier against Japan on Wednesday night.

Scott McDonald continued his good goal scoring form of late with a goal in Celtic-s 2-1 FA Cup win over Queens Park, to once again give national coach Pim Verbeek something to think about before the crucial World Cup qualifier against Japan on Wednesday night.

McDonald headed home Celtic-s second goal and was his fifth goal in as many games, meaning he goes into the crunch match against the Japanese as the most in form striker, especially with Josh Kennedy on the outer at Karlsruhe and getting no game time on the weekend.

Socceroos striker Mark Viduka made a low key comeback for Newcastle United over the weekend, coming on after 80 minutes in the 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion.

In what was his first start since December, Viduka almost immediately set up a goal for his striking partner Peter Lovenkrands.

Viduka-s national team strike partner Harry Kewell will not make the trip to Japan, after failing to make a return to action with his Turkish club side Galatasaray. Kewell has not played since before Christmas, where he returned home to have a hernia operation.

Another striking option for Verbeek - Tim Cahill - played 77 minutes as Everton won 3-0 against Bolton Wanderers; Mark Schwarzer played a full game and kept another clean sheet as Fulham drew 0-0 away at Wigan Athletic; Vince Grella played a full game in Blackburn Rovers 2-0 loss to Aston Villa; Adam Federici kept a clean sheet as Reading drew 0-0 with Preston, while Mile Sterjovski played 15 minutes as Derby County won 3-0 at Plymouth Argyle.

On Sunday, Lucas Neill played a full game as West Ham United went down 1-0 to Manchester United; Mark Bresciano was replaced after 83 minutes as Palermo won 2-1 against Napoli in the Serie A; in Holland, Gold Coast United-bound Jason Culina played a full game, as PSV won 5-3 away at FC Volendam; while in Turkey, all three Aussies - Mile Jedinak, Bruce Djite and James Troisi - started in the 2-1 loss to Buraspor, with Mile and James playing full games.

Unfortunately Brett Holman, considered the player most likely to take Brett Emerton-s spot on the right side of midfield, did not play in AZ Alkmaar-s 3-1 win over Willem II Tilburg.