Soccer-Viduka ruled out of Australia's World Cup qualifiers

MELBOURNE, May 1 (Reuters) - Australia striker Mark Viduka has been ruled of his country's World Cup qualifiers in June with an Achille's heel injury, coach Pim Verbeek said on Thursday. The 32-year-old Newcastle United striker committed last month to helping Australia qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when he was fit. Verbeek, however, said Viduka would not be available for matches against Iraq in Brisbane and Dubai on June 1 and June 7 respectively, Qatar in Doha on June 14 and China in Sydney on June 22. "He is struggling with an Achille's problem," Verbeek told reporters from the Netherlands on a conference call. "They are thinking of rehab, having injections and maybe a small operation at the end of the season so I don't think he will be available. "He was struggling and when we spoke he said he would see if he is (feeling) better and we would find out if he would be available (for June) but it is not going very well for him. "It will be very difficult for him to be part of the group."