Former Olyroo captain Mark Milligan is on the verge of quitting J-League club JEF United following the Japan earthquake.

The 25-year old Sydney-born defender/midfielder only joined the Chiba club at the start of last year from Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua but insists that the current situation in Japan has forced him to reassess his career.

"It does put a thought in the back of your mind," he admitted.

"We've had earthquakes and stuff like that before but now there's talk of a big one [coming]. This one that hit isn't in the area they are predicting.

"With this nuclear stuff and radiation I won't get an indication until I go back.

"I'd love to go back and love for it to be all better but I think it is going to be quite some time."

Milligan, who is back in his homeland training with former club Sydney FC, said he felt for the Japanese people who have been badly affected by the natural disaster.

"I love Japan," he added. "The people are great. I don't think anyone deserves this, especially them. It must be so tough.

"I think I am one of the lucky ones. Where we were the earthquake got up to [magnitude] 7.8. It's quite concerning when you have onwards of 230 aftershocks from Friday to Monday morning and quite sizeable as well.

"There was a 6.8 one on the Monday morning which made everyone realise we needed to go away and be with our families."