Melbourne Victory recruit Terry Antonis still harbours ambitions of a career in Europe but admits he will be a little more careful next time an opportunity presents himself.
Antonis is back home after departing Eredivisie club VVV Venlo, having failed to make a single Dutch league appearance in his six-month stint.
It was his second crack at Europe and after penning a two-and-a-half year deal with Victory, the 24-year-old is now at his third A-League club.
Heralded as one of Australia's brightest prospects as a teenager, Antonis stands at something of a crossroads and knows he must hit his straps under coach Kevin Muscat to have any chance of realising his undoubted potential.
"It's difficult going over there," Antonis told reporters. "All of them are good players. I took good things away from it. I learned a lot about myself, my character. I had to be strong.
"If another [European] move comes across, I'm just going to take my time ... I think that's everyone's intentions and dreams.
"I had some options [to stay] but I wanted to come back. I just want to play regular football, put my head down and work hard."
Antonis spent five years with Sydney FC and was with the Western Sydney Wanderers last season before trying his luck with Greek club PAOK, where he made just four league appearances.
His signing is a boon for the Victory, who appear to have found form after a sluggish start to the A-League season.
It is also a pointer to the future with midfielders Carl Valeri, Mark Milligan and Matias Sanchez all off contract at the end of the current campaign.
Victory have also brought hard-nosed defender Dino Djulbic back to the A-League from Malaysian club Felda United.
The former Perth Glory and Gold Coast United veteran has signed a short-term deal as cover for Olyroo Thomas Deng and the injured James Donachie.
"Musky showed a lot of interest. He was calling me for a few weeks. I couldn't pass [up] this decision to play for a big club like Victory," Djulbic said.
Both players are set to be available for Saturday's clash with the Central Coast in Geelong, which will be played half an hour later at 6pm AEDT due to extreme heat.