Allardyce - who brought Viduka from Middlesbrough over the close season - admits he's already spoken to the striker about future Socceroo games.

And he's all but ruled out releasing Viduka for any Australian friendlies - including the upcoming game against Argentina in September.

Fat Sam spoke out after admitting he was looking forward to seeing Viduka start in United's opening game of the season after the Socceroo's Asian Cup campaign.

"He doesn't need any pre-season any more," said Allardyce. "He's had a full pre-season playing in the Asian Cup, so there is certainly no lack of games.

"He has played five in extreme heat. A little bit of rest first and there's no reason why, on 11 August, he shouldn't be firing on all cylinders for us."

But he added: "If there is a rest needed then, it can come later on in international breaks rather than him tripping all the way over to Australia for meaningless friendlies.

"He needs to seriously consider that now.

"We have put that to him and, from our point of view and his point of view, that would be very sensible, certainly in the early international breaks when friendlies are normally being played.

"He could only be playing for Australia purely as a fundraising venture," he said.

"Mark Viduka really has no need to get involved in that when he is contracted to Newcastle and is a major signing and hopefully one of our leading goalscorers next season."