Viduka has played no part in World Cup qualifying so far and his season with Newcastle United has been badly disrupted by injury.

However, the Socceroos coach is not ready to turn his back on the former Leeds United and Middlesbrough forward.

He has already had one chat with the striker over the past few months and he will continue to monitor his progress.

However, it doesn't seem that sentiment will play any part if the call does come to pull on the green and gold again.

"If he shows he's the same Mark Viduka as we know him, then, yeah, he's a part of the group," Verbeek said.

"But he has to show me and everybody that he didn't lose (that) in one year. That's still a big possibility for a player of his age who didn't play for one year, that he never comes back to his normal level. Then it's a pity for him and a pity for us," Verbeek told the Herald-Sun.

Viduka's first challenge though is to get himself back into the Newcastle side under Alan Shearer and help prevent relegation to the Championship.