Ante Milicic played with Viduka in several Olympic qualifiers in the mid-90s before a move to Croatian club Rijeka in the late 1990s.

Milicic had been a star with Croatian-backed NSL club Sydney United before moving overseas and is now back at United as a successful player-coach in the NSW Premier League.

He says Viduka is still the best strike option for the national team and a stint in Croatia's league could be the catalyst for a return to the green and gold.

"Croatia is a good standard, and I'm sure whatever club he'd play for would probably be playing a few rounds in the Europa League," Milicic told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"And he'd get that winter break in December and January and there are always good quality games in Turkey and Italy during that time."

Viduka is reported to have been in contact with Hajduk Split in Croatia where close friend and former Wigan star Josip Skoko now plays.

"It'll get him right and it's probably a realistic option as he knows already the language and the mentality and the players," said Milicic.

"You wouldn't have to sit back and say 'will we settle here?' In Croatia that's all put aside and you can just worry about playing,."

Viduka's  EPL career is up in the air after a meeting with Fulham boss Roy Hodgson revealed that the Socceroo was looking for a fresh start. He'd been previously linked with Portsmouth and even a return to St James Park.

"I wanted to know if he wanted to continue playing in the Premier League but by the end of our discussion it was pretty clear he'd made his decision to leave it behind and start a new life," Hodgson said.

Viduka's wife is also of Croatian heritage and the former Melbourne Knight is said to have spent most of the European summer on holiday sailing off the coast of Croatia.

Socceroo coach Pim Verbeek has publicly kept the door open for the former Celtic, Leeds, Middlesbrough and Newcastle striker to return to the national team.

While J-League based Josh Kennedy has stepped up admirably in the absence of Viduka (who last played for the Socceroos at the Asian Cup in 2007), Milicic believes the burly striker's class is still what the Verbeek system suits best.

"There are class players and world class players, and for me he falls into the world class category," said Milicic, capped five times for Australia, the last in 2005.

"He's played in a UEFA Champions League semi final. Compared to anyone else, he's the number one striker. He's head and shoulders above the rest.

 "He's been the best striker Australia has had in the last 10 to 12 years. And if he wants to play, he'd be perfect for Australia going to the World Cup.

"There is no other player like him. With that presence, and to have a bit of respect and fear from opposition sides, he would be unbelievable as a target man with the kind of guys we've got running through midfield."

Milicic said that in Croatia, the Socceroos have a new-found respect and support since World Cup 2006.

He added: "Ever since Croatia had the 2-2 draw with Australia, the whole of Croatia was basically cheering for Australia due to Viduka, Joe Skoko, Zeljko Kalac and Tony Popovic being in the team."