Wright looks to extend dream run with Socceroos

It's been a big 12 months for Bailey Wright, who has gone from an unknown in England's third tier to a fully fledged Australia international with a World Cup under his belt.

Bailey Wright at Socceroos training in Dubai (Image: FFA) Source: FFA

Australian football fans would hardly have recognised the Australian defender's name this time last year, when he was quietly plying his trade with Preston North End.

But a dream run including a FIFA World Cup 2014 berth in Brazil, a goal on international debut and Preston's recent promotion to the Championship has ensured the 22-year-old is no longer in the beautiful game's shadows.

"That's the thing in football, you never know what's around the corner," Wright said.

"Sometimes it's for worse, sometimes for better and lucky enough for me it's taken me in a direction I want to be.

"This time last year getting called into the World Cup squad and being a part of that, was an amazing experience and something you still pinch yourself and think, 'Did it actually happen?'"

Wright is still marvelling at Preston's promotion, which came at the expense of injured Socceroos team-mate Massimo Luongo after the side thrashed Swindon Town 4-0 last month in the play-off final at Wembley.

"It was an unbelievable day and it's been a long time coming for the club," Wright said.

But the talented player from Victoria's Mornington Peninsula is determined not to let the buzz of his recent success distract him now that he's back on Socceroos duties in Dubai.

As the national team prepares for its first 2018 World Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan next Wednesday morning (AEST), Wright is out to convince coach Ange Postecoglou he deserves a fourth Socceroos cap.

With Trent Sainsbury ruled out of the fixture with a hamstring injury, he's in genuine contention to start alongside centre-back Matthew Spiranovic.

Australia is expected to steamroll 177th-ranked Kyrgyzstan, but Wright was quick to warn it would be unwise to underestimate a team its never played before.

"Countries like that, you don't really see a lot of and see them play," he said.

"We've seen before, we played Macedonia a few months back and it was maybe an easier game for us and one we drew.

"We need to make sure we do things right to win the game.

"You always want to get off to a good start. It's how you set the tempo and it stems right through the qualifying campaign."

The match in Bishkek is step one on a long road to Russia for the Socceroos, which will play a possible 18 matches in a bid to qualify for a fourth consecutive World Cup.

Also in Australia's favourable, if somewhat obscure, qualifying group are Tajikistan, Bangladesh and Jordan.