Most club managers are usually unhappy about losing players to international duty, especially when fixtures are being played on the other side of the world.

Kisnorbo has made an impressive start to life at Leeds but he missed the club's recent League Cup win over Darlington due to Socceroos commitments with Ireland.

He will also miss Leeds' League One fixture against Stockport County on September 5 due to Australia's friendly against South Korea.

However, Grayson understands how important this year is for Kisnorbo's World Cup hopes and is backing him for his South Africa dream.

"It is frustrating but I knew it could happen when we signed him," Grayson told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"The lad's got a massive year in front of him because at the end of it he could be in the World Cup. That's the highlight of any player's career.

"His ultimate aim for this season before he joined us was to play in the World Cup and I could never stop him from doing that."

Grayson thinks it could be a win-win situation if he has a player performing consistently well on both stages.

He added: "If he's performing as he has done then it will help us to be solid and win matches, and ultimately help him fulfil an ambition that every footballer would like to achieve."

Australia also take on the Netherlands in Sydney at the start of October, when Leeds travel to Bristol Rovers.