"If, by playing regularly at Kilmarnock, I could force my way into the national team, that would be fantastic," said full-back Wilson.

"I was involved in the 2002 World Cup qualification tournament."

But his failure to break into the first-team at PSV Eindhoven has meant that the 26-year-old has spent the last few years in the international wilderness.

Ironically, his attempt to win a longer deal with Kilmarnock came despite Guus Hiddink being the manager of both PSV and the Australian national team.

"The first priority is just to play," said Wilson. "I've spent the last six months not playing a lot.

"To be playing in the national team, you have to be playing regularly at a decent club or else you don't get a sniff.

"Most of the boys who are in the national team are either playing in England, Italy or Spain."

PSV signed Wilson from Sydney Olympic in 2002 and he spent spells on loan to Volendam and Helmond Sport.

A trial with Derby County came to nothing and his time with PSV was not helped when their reserve team were expelled from the Dutch Cup in August because Wilson had played while ineligible.

But, with the World Cup looming, Wilson believes there are places up for grabs in the Australia squad.

"There are chances in the defence," he said. "If you look at the midfielders and the forwards, the squad is very strong.

"When you look at the defenders, there are a lot of boys on the bench and not playing regularly at their clubs.

"Hiddink likes his players to be playing regularly.