Sunderland defender Bailey Wright will head for the World Cup with the praise of his club boss Tony Mowbray ringing in his ears.

Wright has been named in Australia's 26-man squad for the coming World Cup and will link up with the Socceroos after Sunderland's game against Birmingham City this Friday.

Wright was part of Australia's squad for the 2014 World Cup but faced the heartbreak of being left out four years ago. He helped the Socceroos qualify for the Qatar tournament but his lack of football for the Black Cats this season, until recent weeks, will have been a concern.

However, he's returned to the side in recent weeks and played every minute of Sunderland's last three games, with boss Mowbray hailing the attitude of the 30-year-old.

"What a human being he is, what a guy he is," said Mowbray.

"I didn't get one knock on my door from him asking me what's going on. He got his head down. I've said to you in the past, he's the most vocal in the dressing room before a game even when he's not playing. He'll be a sub and he's shaking his fists, telling everyone what they need to do, getting after them really.

"What a guy. And yet, he has some real competition in his way. The competition is huge and yet what he brings as a human being and as a team player is fantastic for this football club."

Before the Australia squad was confirmed, Mowbray told of how he'd be staggered if Wright wasn't selected.

He said: "I can't see how they won't pick him, if the manager knows the players. 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.

"It would be fantastic for him to go to a World Cup."

Australia face a tough test to get out of a challenging group. They start their campaign against defending world champions France on Tuesday, November 22 before games against Tunisia and Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark.

Before attention turns to the World Cup, Wright will first be focused on helping Sunderland sign off for the break in positive fashion as the Black Cats look to bounce back from their Cardiff City disappointment at Birmingham City on Friday night.

Despite the disappointment of the Cardiff defeat, Wright has once again struck up a good pairing with Danny Batth in the last three games at the heart of Mowbray's defence.

Wright said: "Me and Dan have played together last season and formed a really good partnership.

"I think first and foremost he’s a great person and a good bloke, an honest character and someone you’d take to war with you. You’d 100 per cent want him on your side.

"Playing alongside him we talk, we see the game similar and we complement each other in many ways in the way we talk and try and control those in front of us."