The veteran Australian striker was the hero for McDonald when he joined Celtic and later Leeds United, getting into the Champions League semi-finals.

Now he wants to emulate that success by helping Celtic's European campaign, starting with their clash against AC Milan later this week.

But although Viduka's performances in the green and gold spurred Scott into chasing a Socceroos spot, he's yet to fulfil his ambition of playing alongside Dukes.

"The Australian press told me there's talk of Mark retiring from international football, but I hope not," McDonald told Scotland's Herald newspaper.

"Being with him in squads has been an eye-opener for me. I have never been on the same pitch as him and I would love that.

"He could be unbelievable when he wanted to turn it on, the best in the world at times."

McDonald added: "He has been very successful and I remember watching all his games in the Champions League. He was a hero of mine when I was younger.

"I grew up supporting Celtic and it was massive when he moved to the club from Croatia Zagreb.

"At one point, he came back to Australia to visit my team at the Victoria Institute of Sport, which he used to be part of, and sat down chatting to us.

"For me, it was a bit of trying to get an autograph and a picture with him. Last time we met up, I spoke to him about it and he remembered the visit.

"It was special to have someone like Mark come and see us and I'd like to do something like that in future. I never thought I would make it to this level when I saw him back then."

The Hoops currently have a heavy schedule with defeat against Hibernian at Easter Road last Sunday followed by a CIS Insurance Cup win over Dundee on Wednesday.

Gordon Strachan's side welcome Dundee United in the SPL this weekend before preparing for the Champions League clash with AC Milan at home on Wednesday.

But McDonald, who signed from Motherwell in the summer for £700,000, revealed he has his own way of recovering from games.

The 24-year-old said: "It's been going well for me. At the start I was sort of worried about how I would cope with it but at the moment my body is feeling really good.

"The management know what they are doing and they give us a lot of rest between the games.

"We get a lot of recovery sessions and it's how you look after your own body as well.

"I've been trying to do that with massages or ice baths and I feel it's working.

"I did a lot more training at Motherwell and we had a lot more double sessions but obviously that was because you don't play as many midweek games.

"Just looking at the schedule I don't think we've got a break right up until Christmas with Saturday, Wednesday, Sunday, Tuesday, it's busy all the time but it's keeping me fit, that's for sure.

"The ice baths are all right. We were doing that in Australia long before they were doing it here so I've been doing it for quite some time - but I think a few boys are too scared to get in them."

Despite the added physical exertions involved in his move to Celtic McDonald, who has scored three times in nine games, believes the mental side of playing for the champions is equally taxing.

He said: "There are going to be times when you are not going to be playing well and it's how you cope with that and how you come through.

"Everyone here is very strong mentally and I don't think they would be here if they weren't.

"I'm pleased with my goals so far although there is always room for improvement.

"I would have liked a couple of more goals but I have contributed in other ways."

Manager Gordon Strachan admits to having his own problems with the the Hoops' demanding fixture list.

He said "It's not easy. You try and keep to who you are playing.

"If it's Dundee United then it's Dundee United so we've talked about that for a couple of days.

"As soon as the shutters come down on that game, you are out with DVDs and things like that and away you go again.

"It's getting the balance right with the players, giving them enough knowledge and resting them at the same time.

"I'm resting their minds as well because of the intensity of the games that they have played in and their concentration levels.

"There's one or two things I like to work on on the training field but we had to just speak about them in my office which isn't great.

"Sometimes a video is quite good but I still like to get them on to the training field."