Former Socceroos striker Adrian Alston believes Mark Viduka is ready to be thrown back into international football. The Newcastle United talisman has struggled this season with injury and has not played for the Socceroos since the 2007 Asian Cup but Alston thinks it is the right time for his return.

"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.

"We're not saying anything about him being deserving [of the chance to play] - you have to take all those things away," he added.

"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 (Pim Verbeek) will do that.

"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."