Viduka has made only 11 eleven competitive appearances this season for club side Newcastle United and has not featured for the Socceroos since the 2007 Asian Cup.

Despite his two-year absence from the international arena, coach Pim Verbeek has left the door open for the front man to return to the Australia set-up if he chooses - and according to Alston, his return could not have been better timed.

"I think now is the ideal time to throw him into the national team - at least he'll be getting that feel with the boys and that passion again," Alston said.

"He's had two very good games and I realise that's a million miles away from international football [but]... Viduka definitely needs international football under his belt and now is the ideal time to play him."

Viduka's commitment to Australia ahead of the World Cup finals next year is yet to be confirmed however, with the striker currently focused on a relegation-battle with Newcastle United.

Recent comments from Verbeek suggested the player is considering retiring if he is unable to extend his contract at the end of this season, which would surely bring an end to his international career.

Whilst some might question Viduka's attitude and prolonged absence from Australia squads, Alston believes it is irrelevant as to whether the player "deserves" his Socceroos chance.

"We're not saying anything about him being deserving [of the chance to play] - you have to take all those things away," he said. "It's about winning the game and getting the team ready for the World Cup finals.

"It's not about who deserves it, who's a nice man and who's done the right thing by Australia. It's about winning and as a coach, he will do that."

Alston added: "He can do the right things by all the right players because they are honest and always turn up for the Australian games but if he doesn't win he gets sacked.

"So his job is to get Australia to the World Cup finals and do well when we get there. If that means he has to play Viduka now, then he will.

"If we are going to play with a lone striker, then you'd have to fancy that he's going to play Mark Viduka."

Such scenarios are familiar to Alston, who experienced first-hand the ruthless coaching style of Rale Rasic - the first ever manager to take Australia to the World Cup.

Described by Alston as a man who "could make those decisions standing on his head" it might just be that his uncompromising and pragmatic style is a common-ground shared with Verbeek.

If the Dutchman is forced to leave Viduka behind when his team travel to South Africa next year, that resolve will be tested - though Alston says there can be no excuses, even if the striker doesn't travel.

"I don't think it [Viduka playing] is crucial because the team involves everybody and every team changes and so we have to be ready for that," he said.

"We can't make any excuses saying we didn't do very well in the World Cup because we didn't have Viduka. The whole point is to have people coming through and using them in the right way.

"Kennedy does a pretty good job because every time he comes on the pitch he tends to score!"

If anyone has looked capable of replacing Viduka as Australia's designated lone striker, it has been the lanky, German-based forward.

Having finally found gametime in recent weeks with Bundesliga club Karlsruhe, Kennedy is certainly presenting a strong case to be Verbeek's first-choice striker for the June World Cup Qualifiers against Qatar, Bahrain and Japan.

"He [Kennedy] is very dangerous when you're breaking quick and somebody gets out wide and they send the ball into that penalty area," Alston said.

"Without a doubt he's dangerous, however, he hasn't played that many games in club football either. It's a difficult choice but I'm sure Verbeek will make the right one. At least he has choices."