Moore's injury worries continue

Indeed, despite two knee operations, the Ibrox man appears no nearer a return for either club or country, and

yesterday it emerged that he may be sidelined for yet a while longer, with the player ready to return Down Under over the winter.

Farina's concept of Utopia will be further undermined tonight by the absence of another Ranger, Tony Vidmar, Hibernian's Stuart Lovell, and the likelihood that former Celtic striker Mark Viduka will not have recovered sufficiently to appear.

''Mark has a 50-50 chance at best'', Farina confirmed.

In delivering an eloquent

testimonial on Moore, Farina said he had spoken with the player: ''As I understand it, he is heading back to Australia for a while.

''He has had a big

problem with his knee. It is very unfortunate that he's had the problem for such a long time.''

Moore has been sorely missed this season behind a Rangers defence whose 20-goal haemorrhage is the single biggest reason for the team's vulnerability and wounded pride.

If Moore's absence is to be prolonged, as Farina suggests, it will place even greater

pressure on Lorenzo Amoruso to recover his form.

Having appeared in last year's Scottish Cup final, and in the opening match of this season against Zalgiris Kaunas in the Champions League qualifier on July 26, Moore has yet to play since.

Farina would not be drawn as to whether Moore's return home might involve further surgery in a country popularly perceived to be at the forefront of sports medicine, but he made it clear Moore will receive an international recall as soon as he is again available for selection.

''Craig is a big loss,'' said Farina. ''He has given good

service. At international level, you've got to have depth, but players of his calibre are a miss. A fit Craig Moore is definitely in my World Cup plans.''

He hopes that by the time Australia play their qualifying section, against Tonga, Fiji, American Samoa, and Samoa, in April, he will be available.

Viduka was subjected to a fitness test yesterday morning, but having been seen by team doctor Andrew Jowett and the physiotherapist, Dave Hancock, he was permitted to indulge only in light training.

Having injured an ankle while helping Leeds United draw with Chelsea on Sunday, Viduka was immediately declared unfit by his manager, David O'Leary.

''Mark is keen to play,'' said Farina, ''but he has got a

problem - there is quite a bit of swelling. We are going to give

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him another 24 hours to see how he comes along. If the player tells me he is fit and wants to play, that will be good enough for me.

''We want to do the right thing by everyone . . . I have spoken with David O'Leary and Leeds' medical staff. They are very concerned, and you can understand that. Viduka is scoring a lot of goals, and they would rather he didn't play.''

He warned, though, that clubs who buy international players must be aware of the potential consequences. Indeed, the financial implications are those at the heart of the case being made by the SPL to the SFA.

''Managers have to realise that while they are going out buying the best players in the world, this is part of the

package which comes along with it,'' said the Australian.

Farina, who who was on the books of Bruges when he faced Scotland in their 1985 World Cup play-off, was one of only four Australian professionals then good enough to ply their trade in Europe. Now, as he stated yesterday, he has some 135 to choose from.

Craig Brown would doubtless sell his soul for some of he talent at his rival's disposal.

Mark Bosnich we know all about; Paul Agostino has done well with 1860 Munich, and captain Paul Okon, of Middlesbrough, was a Bosman

capture from Fiorentina.

Farina, who has lost just four matches in his 16 as manager, insist his side are ''minnows'' by comparison with Scotland.

''You have men used to playing world-class teams under pressure. We are down where that doesn't happen.''

Brown has heard it all before, and has the scars to prove it.