Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce's hopes of having Mark Viduka back in his Newcastle United line-up against Portsmouth on Saturday look to have been dashed, reports the Evening Chronicle.

For the word from the training ground is that the Aussie striker is likely to miss out again, with the derby match with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in 10 days' time a more realistic target for Viduka.

The big Aussie is back in training after being sidelined since he limped off with a calf injury two minutes from the end of the 3-1 defeat by Manchester City at Eastlands at the end of last month.