“If I was Joel I'd definitely look to go overseas at season's end. I mean, he's in the best form of his career.

“Everything he touches turns to gold and he's a good chance to be player of the season and golden boot,” Durante told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“I don't know if there would be a better time to make a move overseas for Joel. Asia, as a loan spell perhaps, would be a great opportunity,” he added.

Officials from J2 side Avispa – including former Sydney FC and now club coach Pierre Littbarski – have watched Newcastle play during the festive season. And the Jets have had informal discussions with the Japanese club about Griffiths moving on loan to the club.

However CEO John Tsatsimas told au.fourfourtwo.com that no formal offer has been tabled for the 28-year-old talisman. “It depends on the specifics, what's suitable to both clubs and also when we finish our season.

“There are lots of factors. We could potentially be playing in the Pan Pacific tournament in late February in Hawai,” he said.

The J2 is currently in its off-season. Most teams return by mid-January ahead of a March kick-off for season 2008.

The move to Japan would make sense for a player whose sizzling form – he's top A-League scorer with ten goals - has propelled him into Pim Verbeek's first locally based Socceroo squad, which is due to meet today in Sydney for a training camp.

Griffiths is a certainty for the next two Asian World Cup qualifiers in February and late March and potentially in June when the overseas Socceroos are expected back for four World Cup qualifiers.

“It's a huge factor,” added Durante of the long A-League off-season. “There is such a big break in the A-League if you don't have Asian Champions League. For young boys and players like Griffo, it's a big factor.”

Financially it may be lucrative too, although that is not a given. Japan's Daily Yomiuri reported last month that the majority of the 13 J2 clubs were experiencing financial difficulties with operating costs outstripping revenue.