Sunderland defender Bailey Wright has been named in Australia's 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup. Wright helped book the Socceroos' ticket to Qatar as they defeated United Arab Emirates, and then Peru, to qualify for the tournament.
Wright was initially struggling for game time at Sunderland this season but has returned to start the last three games. Tony Mowbray was confident that his return to the side would boost his chances of going to the World Cup.
"I can't see how they won't pick him, if the manager knows the players," Mowbray revealed on Monday. "Because whether he is in the team or not in the team, to have his character and personality around the dressing room is pretty major, I would suggest.
"He's actually played some games now, so it is not as though the manager of Australia would be looking at it and thinking 'he hasn't played for three or four months, I can't pick him'. He's played and the team has functioned alright.
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"Without knowing whether he is in, I would expect him to be in the squad. It would be fantastic for him to go to a World Cup."
Wright has been capped 27 times by Australia, scoring two goals, and was included in the squad for the 2014 World Cup. The defender was an unused substitute in all three group games and was left out of the final squad for the 2018 World Cup.
Australia feature in a group containing reigning world champions France, Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark and Tunisia.
The Socceroos play all three of their group games in Al Wakrah. They open the tournament against France on November 23, and play three days later when they meet Tunisia. They conclude the group against Denmark on December 1.
Australia's full squad:
Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan (c), Danny Vukovic, Andrew Redmayne.
Defenders: Nathaniel Atkinson, Aziz Behich, Fran Karacic, Joel King, Kye Rowes, Harry Souttar, Milos Degenek, Thomas Deng, Bailey Wright.
Midfielders: Keanu Baccus, Cameron Devlin, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Aaron Mooy, Riley McGree.
Forward: Craig Goodwin, Martin Boyle, James Maclaren, Anwer Mabil, Mat Leckie, Garang Kuol, Mitchell Duke, Jason Cummings.
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