>>>    click here to see the socceroos train on Friday   

Playing for the domestic comp may have been Socceroos suicide but Milligan says the approach of head coach Holger Osieck has given players licence to return home when things go belly-up abroad.

The 27-year-old is enjoying a stellar season with Ange Postecoglou’s Melbourne Victory after stints with Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League and J-League outfit JEF United.

Fresh from his goal-scoring heroics in last weekend’s Big Blue 1-1 result against Sydney FC, a relaxed-looking Milligan was clear the fledgling league was not a graveyard for international aspirations.

Osieck has put his faith in six home-based players for a match described as a must win, among them Milligan’s Victory team-mate and veteran marksman, Archie Thompson.

“There’s a few A-League players in this camp and I think with the league this year it’s been quite strong and very competitive,” he said.

“I think more and more A-League players are getting looked at and getting the chance to come in.

“The tournament last year in Hong Kong (East Asian Cup qualifier) was very good for A-League players to get in front of Holger and show what they can do so.”

Milligan added: “It’s nice to know that if you are a player overseas and maybe not having the best run of things that you can come home and still be in the national frame of things.

“I think it’s good for the national team, it’s good for the player and it’s obviously good for the A-League.

“Holger’s shown over his term that if players are playing regularly, doing well and you come in here and you do well then you’re every chance of staying in this national team side.”

And it’s not only the coaching staff looking at the A-League with fresh eyes.

“All the boys who are overseas when they come in they’re asking all of us how the A-League’s going,” Milligan added.

“I mean most of them know from watching and seeing highlights and things like that, I mean everyone sort of keeps an eye on it which is very good.

“There’s always comments when you come into camp about games previously played that they’ve seen and how things are going. So there is a lot of interest, even from the boys who’ve been overseas for a very very long time.”

Milligan, who has been to two World Cups but yet to play in one, credited Victory coach Postecoglou for instilling in him a new sense of self belief.

The team currently sits in third place on the league ladder with just two games remaining in the regular season.

“I think Ange has changed the way I look at the game,” Milligan said.

“He’s very very good in many areas and I think for me the biggest thing is leading into a game the confidence that you get from him during the week, in your own ability and in the ability of the team.

“The confidence that I go into a game with now is always very high and that’s down to him.”

    >>>    click here to see the socceroos train on Friday