MARK Viduka last night reaffirmed his commitment to the Middlesbrough cause and assured fans that the weight of summer speculation surrounding his future has not affected his preparations for the new campaign.

The Australian international has been the subject of intense interest from a number of leading European clubs this summer, following fellow frontman Yakubu's £7.5m arrival at the Riverside.

Newcastle manager Graeme Souness made no attempt to hide his admiration for the 29-year-old, while Spanish giants Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna both made tentative enquiries with the intention of lodging a £6.5m bid.

An abundance of striking talent in the Boro ranks might have given those clubs cause for optimism, something that was quickly deflated when Steve McClaren and Steve Gibson both underlined their faith in Viduka's talents.

That faith was rewarded on Tuesday as the striker's two-goal salvo helped Boro record their first win of the season at St Andrew's.

Viduka has been well aware of the headlines that have followed him around this summer.

But, after shrugging off similar speculation during previous spells at both Celtic and Leeds, he is not about to let the latest bout of uncertainty prevent him from re-establishing himself at the forefront of Boro's assault on the top six.

"There's always speculation and it seems to have followed me around," said Viduka.

"I'm used to it. It's happened at whichever club I've been at and I've learned how to ignore it and laugh it off. It doesn't affect me and it certainly hasn't been preying on my mind.

"It's great to know the manager has confidence in what you're doing and every player wants the backing of his manager, but everything that has been said was never an issue for me.

"All I've ever wanted is to be back in the starting line-up. It feels great to be back out on the pitch as a full member of the team."

Tuesday's 3-0 win was only the second time Viduka has made Boro's starting line-up this year, following a succession of back and hamstring problems that started, somewhat ironically, at Birmingham on Boxing Day.

The Australian's only other start lasted just 11 minutes as he was forced back onto the sidelines at Selhurst Park in April, and that aborted comeback marked the lowest point of an angst-ridden eight months.

"Coming back against Crystal Palace was hard," said Viduka, who described Tuesday night's second goal - a viciously swerving strike that left Maik Taylor grasping at thin air - as "quite possibly the best" of his career. "I worked hard to get back for that game and it just wasn't happening.

"That was a blow, but I told myself, if I kept working, things would come right. They have and now there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to stay injury-free.

"That's the number one thing I want now. I just want to be playing in the side week in, week out."

Viduka's relationship with former Dutch international Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink was given little time to develop before the former was sidelined midway through last season.

Yet the early signs of understanding that were in evidence in wins against Fulham and Manchester City were apparent again as Birmingham were brushed aside on Tuesday night.

The arrival of Yakubu could yet sour their partnership - it is difficult to see how McClaren could keep his £7.5m man on the bench for long - but, rather than questioning the wisdom of signing yet another rival, Viduka has welcomed the Nigerian's presence as evidence of further progression.

"You do sit up and take notice when the manager pays a lot of money for another striker," he admitted. "But, judging by the way things went last season, I don't think he had any choice.

"We had so many injuries and the squad was probably a little bit too small, so new signings were always going to be on the cards.

"If somebody gets injured, you need replacements. But you don't just need any replacements, you need top-class players.

"That's what sets the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United apart from everybody else. They've got world-class players on the bench who can come on at any time. That's what everybody's aiming towards here.

"I think the squad is better equipped now. We've got a bit more depth and I think the manager is still looking to sign another couple of players."

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