The defender is enjoying a brief break back in Geelong before he reports for the next Olyroo camp ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

Fulham’s reserve team boss recently said Leijer was a joy to work with an fully expected him to be banging on the first team door next season.

Leijer himself is optimistic about the prospects of first team football but doesn’t want to sit on the sidelines indefinitely.

He told the Geelong Advertiser: "If I get back there and I'm not in the firsts in the first couple of months then I'll probably look for a loan for a month or a few months.

"But it is exciting and it is a challenge and when you're faced with challenges it brings the best out of you.

“It is easy to take the easy option, but when you've got a challenge in front of you, you push yourself harder and try and step up.

“They've said they’ve got high hopes for me to try and step up next season. It’s good hearing things like that, it gives you confidence.”

Leijer was poised to join fallen giants Leeds United on loan last season before Roy Hodgson came in as the new Fulham boss.

Leijer said: “Roy hadn't been there that long and it’s good now that Roy knows what I’m about and has had the opportunity to see me.

“It was difficult, you don’t want to be playing reserves football, but I was obviously adapting. You can’t expect to go straight from the A-League to starting in the English Premier League.

“I had a few chances on the bench, which was a good experience and I did quite well in the reserves and got some good feedback from that. Hopefully next season’s a good season for me.”

Worryingly, the 22-year-old is struggling with tendinitis in his knee. He said: “Then you take into account all the travelling for the Olympic qualification games, so the body’s been a bit battered, but I’m feeling pretty good now.

“It’s not going to stop me playing in the Games, it’s just been a bit difficult with the training side of things and because I haven't had a rest for so long, it's been flaring up a bit, but this break will do me good, it'll freshen me up mentally as well.”