Bailey Wright was kept out of the team by a combination of Dan Ballard, Luke O'Nien and Danny Batth, but is now back in the side and made his 100th appearance for SAFC against Huddersfield.
EXPERIENCE
"I'm 30 years old and I know the game well. I also see the game very often and try to look at it from a manager's or coach's point of view. I highly respect the lads who have been playing in my position and have a lot of respect and time for the lads who have been playing ahead of me."
PATIENCE
"I think sometimes you have to be patient when boys are playing well and sometimes it takes injuries to get a chance. I'm not naive and for me I can see why lads were playing ahead of me. It wasn't that I wasn’t working hard enough or doing my job in training. I apply myself as I do everyday regardless if I'm playing or not. I've had conversations with the gaffer and he's let me know where I stand. He's not been disappointed with what I've been doing but I've had to be patient."
LAST SEASON
"Maybe this time last year I had to be patient and wasn't in the team and I guess football moves quick and a lot of things can happen. I always remember how last season finished and what we achieved, and felt fully part of that whether I was playing or not and that's my goal again now. We are a football team and the club always comes first. If you are in that starting XI it's a bonus, if not there is a job to be done regardless of what it is."
AUSTRALIA
"Of course playing enhances your chances of a national team selection but my mindset was playing or not playing I was going to be as ready as ever."
DANNY BATTH
"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 percent want him on your side. Playing alongside him we talk, we see the game similarly and we compliment each other in many ways in the way we talk and try and control those in front of us."
PARTNERSHIPS
"It's always a joy to play alongside him, or Luke [O'Nien] at right-back, Patto [Anthony Patterson] in goal I think is growing and growing, and Dennis [Cirkin]. As a team we want to build those partnerships with twos and fours as a back four, two centre-halves. I think off the pitch we have good relationships, and on the pitch."
FIRST GAME SINCE WEMBLEY
"Of course we know each others' games from last year and we obviously haven't played much together this year. I think the game against Luton was probably the first game me and Dan have started together since Wembley. We train every day together so we know each other well for sure."
100 GAME MILESTONE
"From the moment I came to the club it was an honour to come to a club like Sunderland,” replies Wright when asked about his time on Wearside. To go out and win the 100th game is something I’ll always remember. Hopefully there is many more. I feel like I’ve been here for a good while and had a lot of success here which is ultimately what you come for. Racking up appearances along the way means you are obviously contributing on the pitch and it’s always a difficult team to get into. I never take it for granted playing for a club like Sunderland and it’s always been special since the day I signed.”
