A fourth phone call shared by Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump is being flagged as a step towards an in-person meeting between the prime minister and the US president.

Almost a year into Mr Trump's second term in office, Mr Albanese has struggled to organise face-to-face talks with the Republican leader, after a planned meeting in Canada in June was cancelled at the last minute because of escalating Middle East tensions.

However United States Studies Centre director of research Jared Mondschein says it appears the two will sit down on the sidelines of the United Nations "leaders' week," which starts on September 22.

"Especially with this administration, the personal really goes a long way ... so I think it is something that the prime minister does want to focus on," he told AAP.

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