Crocked... Martyn limps off at Elland Road (StuartFranklin/Allsport)

But the likeable Irishman must have been congratulating himself yesterday on a wise investment.

At £6million, the well-travelled Viduka comes with physical power and brawn in abundance as well as a silky touch and an unquestioned technique. He also has an instinct to infuriate.

For a good hour yesterday Elland Road fans suffered the quirky, baffling, inadequate, drive-you-mad version of Viduka, a footballer of the shoulder shrug and cavalier disposition, who should have scored a hat-trick and established Leeds' supremacy far sooner than they managed.

Suddenly, though, the striker of Croatian ancestry, who spent a boyhood on Sydney's beaches to qualify for an Australian passport and play for that country, presented them with the exciting, gifted flip-side of his sporting personality as all his blessed art and magic came pouring out.

Viduka assumed magical dimensions, a showman clearly born to be roused by the roar and approval of the crowd.

In the 73rd minute, the highly-effective Lee Bowyer and another young man of potential England pedigree, Alan Smith, inspired yet another threatening Leeds attack.

Predictably, Viduka was primed, seeking out the dangerous territory of the near post as Smith speared in the cross for his attacking ally.

With poetic elegance, Viduka, two feet off the ground, produced an extravagant back-heel flick into the net. Adulation was instant.

Charlton, unbeaten in the previous five games, might well have had their resistance damaged beyond repair by Viduka's arrogant finishing.

To their credit, it was not. Denmark midfielder Claus Jensen saw to that with a dramatically plundered goal in the 84th minute. It, too, had undeniable merits as he cut in from the flank and, with precision and power, defied Leeds goalkeeping understudy Paul Robinson.

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley said: 'I'd warned my players at half-time that they had to pick themselves up, otherwise they were going to get badly hurt.

'They did just that but the referee didn't help. He missed a lot of things, including a penalty for us, and his performance was disappointing. I've been to tell him exactly that.'

England Under-21 goalkeeper Robinson was stationed between the posts for O'Leary's team only because of an injury to senior international Nigel Martyn, prompting a new worry for the Leeds manager.

He lost Martyn in the 70th minute, the Cornishman crumpling in a heap after taking a long clearance. With Leeds set to face Besiktas and Barcelona in the Champions League and Manchester United in the Premiership over the next 11 days, the loss of Martyn could not have been worse timed.

Later, though, O'Leary confirmed: 'Nigel has pulled a groin muscle and he's going to be out for up to four weeks. We certainly know how to collect long-term injuries at this club.'

For O'Leary, that was the grimmest moment of a game that his stylishly-effective team dominated.

Charlton managed an occasional reprisal, particularly in a burst when their approach work and the finishing skills of Jonatan Johansson threatened late in the first half.

Apart from that, Leeds, as Curbishley would concede, were very much the men in charge and, despite Viduka's early profligacy, they earned their reward in the 38th minute.

They might miss the classic wide man to provide the more orthodox ammunition but there was good movement and immediate understanding in the buildup work between Bowyer, Eirik Bakke and Viduka.

Smith gratefully waited for the lay-off and his seventh goal of the season came with punishing accuracy and genuine power.

But this, surely, was an occasion to remember Viduka. He made sure we did with his fifth goal of the season in the fourth minute of overtime as Smith willingly took on the role of provider and the big man duly put the ball away with a simple toe poke.