Former Socceroos captain Mark Viduka has refused to close the door on his playing career, saying he would consider a comeback to the A-League next season as long as he felt his body was right.
Viduka stepped away from the game at the end of the last English Premier League season with his contract with Newcastle United coming to an end and the Magpies relegated to the Championship.
He was linked to a number of clubs, with Fulham coming close to signing him, but he decided to step away from the game and spend more time with his family.
Speaking to FOX Sports, Viduka said that he had lost the energy to play in the middle of last year and needed time away from the game.
"Roy Hodgson from Fulham was very interested, but the thing that made me decide against that was I was on my holidays and it was the first time after so many years that I didn't want to go back playing,'' he said.
"My agent was ringing me all summer and I was trying to avoid going back. It's something I've never experienced before - just relaxing."
Viduka said that his final 18 months at St James' Park was extremely difficult as he battled serious injuries and that had meant he was not enjoying his football.
"My last season at Newcastle I was injured a lot," he said. "I loved playing football all my life and the last year, year-and-a-half of my career, not being able to do that was very difficult."
However, having had a season away from the game, a break which cost Viduka his chance of playing for Australia in the World Cup, he feels he could be ready to return.
"I'm still in two minds (whether I'll play again). I'm thinking about it,'' he said.
"The A-League is ... unbelievable. People are into it, it's a credit to Mr Lowy and whoever set it up, they did such a good job. Whether I'm going to play in it or not, I'll have to see. I'll have to see whether my body can take it.''
Viduka would likely base himself in his home town of Melbourne should he return, and he has already been linked to new franchise Melbourne Heart.
However, Viduka spent time as a junior working with current Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick and he has spoken to the Victory in the past few months.