While Mark Schwarzer and Brett Holman have carried the flag for a dwindling Aussie contingent this season, there’s no guarantee either will remain in arguably the world’s top league in 2013-2014.

Schwarzer is yet to renew his contact at Fulham and Holman appears on the outer at Villa, suggesting he could be set for a move in the off-season.

With goalkeeper Adam Federici and his club Reading relegated back to the Championship, it raises the possibility of an Australian contingent severely lacking in first team players next season.

Squad players Brad Jones (Liverpool) and Chris Herd (Aston Villa) remain on contract with their clubs while youngsters Curtis Good (Newcastle United), Ryan Williams (Fulham) and Dylan Tombides (West Ham United) are on the books but none have made senior appearances.

Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak could become a new addition in the Premier League, with his side fighting for promotion in the Championship play-off against Watford, while even if it loses he is likely to be on the radar of several Premier League teams.

His arrival in the top flight would be a welcome boost for an Australian contingent that has been in steady decline in recent years.

Midway through last decade it was almost possible to assemble an entire team from Australians playing in the top flight.

Then names including Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Lucas Neill, Craig Moore, Tony Popovic and Josip Skoko – all first team regulars.

Preceding them in the 90s were the likes of Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater while more recently Everton star Tim Cahill and Blackburn Rovers’ Brett Emerton carried Australia’s proud tradition in the league with sustained success.

Schwarzer, a legend of the Premier League who recently became the first foreigner to surpass 500 appearances, lamented the decline but noted it was good to see Australians making their mark elsewhere in Europe.

“It’s definitely sad to see, without a doubt,” Schwarzer told AAP.

“I think it (England) is still one of the best leagues in the world and I think the more we have playing in the Premier League the better.

“But it’s also good to see some of the guys breaking through like Robbie Kruse in Germany and Tommy Oar in Holland.

“It would be nice if these guys, especially Tommy, were able to step up and get up to a bigger league and a better league and become a mainstay in the national team.”

Schwarzer said the A-League had now provided a strong platform for young players to secure moves overseas, noting the recent example of Tom Rogic’s move from Central Coast Mariners to Celtic.

But he encouraged more players to seek moves to Europe rather than taking the big money on offer in Asia.

Schwarzer, 40, will play on in his bid to feature at a third successive FIFA World Cup for Australia but he admits his future may lie away from Fulham.

He says he’s yet to be offered a new contract and is likely to seek assurances of being first-choice gloveman wherever he plays.

Holman endured a frustrating debut season in the Premier League and was not even on the bench for Paul Lambert’s side 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic on the weekend.

While Lambert has claimed Holman has a future at Villa, the Socceroos star may want to pursue a move to ensure more game time.

Source: AAP.