Wrexham

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George Thomason admits it has been "tough" being sidelined during what has been he describes as Wrexham's inconsistent campaign so far.

The midfielder, who can also play wing-back, suffered a thigh injury in the home draw against Watford in August and subsequently missed 10 games in the Championship.

The 25-year-old returned to first team action as a second half substitute in last Friday's 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United.

"I was really frustrated to get injured early on in the season after what I thought was a pretty productive pre-season," Thomason said.

"To be honest, ever since I got back out on the grass during my rehab, I've been itching to get back involved with the lads.

"So, I was really pleased to be back amongst a squad and to get back on the pitch.

"I'm feeling good and, as I say, I'm looking to stay fit for the rest of the campaign.

"Hopefully I can kick on personally and as a team now."

Wrexham have won three, drawn five and lost five of their opening 13 league games.

Thomason is available after his comeback against the Blades for the back-to-back home games against Middlesbrough and Wolves this week.

"It's always tough when you're part of the squad and you're forced to watch because you feel as though you can't contribute and help the boys out," Thomason added.

"You almost feel a little bit guilty that you're not able to, as I say, help them out and you want to be around it.

"We wanted to start better than we have done, no doubt about that. But I'm sure we're going to find that consistency and energy.

"A bit similar to last year, hopefully we can kick on now that everyone's properly integrated and got a much better feel for the new signings and the new signings do for us."

Middlesbrough may need to retake their top position on the table when they make the trip to Wrexham on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

Boro could be displaced by Swansea City if the Swans find success against Portsmouth on Tuesday.

But if the Welsh side fail to find a point, the league leaders will have the chance to extend their lead out of striking distance for the weekend.

Though Wrexham's campaign hasn't been the promotion charge they were hoping for so far and they will be looking to make a splash against top competitors.

• Both league meetings between Wrexham and Middlesbrough last season ended level, the only previous league games played between the sides.

• Middlesbrough have won just two of their six meetings with Wrexham in all competitions (D2 L2), though one of those came in this season's League Cup first round (1-0).

• Having won five consecutive away league games against Welsh sides between February 2023 and August 2024, Middlesbrough are winless in their last three visits (D2 L1). Both games last season ended in 2-2 draws (vs Swansea and Wrexham).

• Following their 4-1 win against Preston last month, Wrexham are looking to win consecutive home league games for the first time since February.

• Middlesbrough have lost just one of their last 12 away league games (W5 D6), going down 2-1 at Blackburn in August.

With the side sitting in 18th place in the Championship after 13 games, Ian Hunt and Dylan Griffiths discuss Wrexham's faltering start to the season.

Get the latest Wrexham news on BBC Sounds.

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Max Cleworth says he felt mixed emotions after making his long-awaited return from injury in Wrexham's 1-0 loss to Sheffield United.

The defender sustained a hamstring injury in the Red Dragons' 1-1 draw with Burnley at the Racecourse Ground on 8 September.

He missed six successive Championship matches but came off the bench for the second half of his side's underwhelming defeat by the Blades at Bramall Lane.

"Overall it's a bad evening," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"From a personal point of view, it was nice to be back out there after a frustrating break.

"We came here to win the game and we haven't done that, so it's a disappointing evening."

Phil Parkinson's men return to action against Championship leaders Middlesbrough on Wednesday night (19:45 GMT).

Boro are unbeaten in 10 league games, but Cleworth says the responsibility is on the Wrexham squad to improve their form having lost three of their past four games.

"There's no tougher game at the minute in the Championship (than against Boro)," he said.

"Results haven't been going how we'd like over recent times but it's down to us to put it right."

On the back of being sidelined for almost two months, academy product Cleworth praised Wrexham's medical staff for helping him return to action prior to the November international window.

"It's not been enjoyable. It's the first time in my career that I've had a prolonged period off the pitch," added the 24-year-old.

"It's made easier by the staff, they've helped me massively to get back quicker than expected so that's made a difference.

"But even in the good results and bad results, you want to be part of it, so it's been tough not to be involved."

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Phil Parkinson says Ben Sheaf has made "another step in the right direction" as the midfielder closes in on a return to full fitness.

The 28-year-old came off the bench in Wrexham's 2-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park last time out having missed three successive matches with a groin issue.

Max Cleworth and George Thomason returned to training earlier this month after sustaining hamstring and thigh injuries respectively earlier on in the campaign.

The duo did not travel with the Red Dragons to Blackburn, although Parkinson suggested both players are close to being available for selection.

"Sheafo has got through the week, he's trained well, he's made another step in the right direction," Parkinson said ahead of his side's Championship contest with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Friday night (20:00 GMT).

"Max and Tommo, they weren't with us (at Blackburn) on Saturday but they stayed here and trained. They've also had good weeks on the training pitch as well.

"We've had a good day today, we'll assess those two going into the weekend.

"At the very least, they strengthen up the numbers as we go into these three games in eight days."

Josh Windass, Liberato Cacace and Nathan Broadhead will miss the fixture with the Blades.

Phil Parkinson looks ahead to Wrexham's trip to 12th-placed Sheffield United on Friday, 30 October (20:00 GMT).

Image source, Phil Oldham/Shutterstock

Phil Parkinson said he was pleased to see former Wrexham midfielder Andy Cannon play a key role in Fleetwood Town's stunning League Cup success over Arsenal.

The 30-year-old came off the bench and netted in the penalty shootout as the Lancashire club stunned the reigning Premier League champions on Tuesday night to book their place in the quarter-finals.

"It's brilliant, and scoring his penalty. Andy's a great lad," said Parkinson.

"I feel for him a bit because his injuries derailed his Wrexham career, but he's rebuilding himself.

"He's a very good player and as I said when he left, what I loved about Andy, not just his football ability he gave us, but when he was out of the team injured, he was there every game wishing the lads all the best in the dressing room.

"He was a real part of the team whether he was in it or not and I'm so pleased that he's had a great moment last night."

Cannon joined Wrexham from Hull City in 2022 and was pivotal in each of the club's three promotions under Parkinson.

However, his Red Dragons career stalled after he ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament during his side's 2-1 win over Mansfield Town in February 2025.

He was released by Wrexham in the summer and joined League Two side Fleetwood on a three-year contract.

We asked Wrexham supporters if the Red Dragons' finishing is holding them back after manager Phil Parkinson said his side must be more clinical with their chances.

Here is what some fans had to say:

Phil: We have too many injured strikers. How can they recover and then be up to match speed on their return? Needed a decent striker in the summer instead of our obsession with wing-backs. We have created our own troubles and need a top striker next transfer window.

Huw: Poor passing is to blame for results to date. Better delivery will result in more goals. Every team has injuries but we miss [Josh] Windass greatly. Need to strengthen the attack in January. We will stay up but it is going to be a long season!

Jay: Feels like the fans have turned. Unfortunately feels like Parky (Parkinson) is on borrowed time now. In my opinion, £8m should buy a keeper who is far more consistent than [Anthony] Patterson, and £7.5m (plus add-ons) should buy a player who's had FAR more impact than [Nathan] Broadhead.

While our business in the National League, League One and League Two was excellent, it's been abysmal both seasons in the Championship.

Dafydd: A consistent finisher up top has been needed for the last four-five transfer windows. It should be the top priority in January, though finding such a striker at a reasonable price will prove a tough ask for Steve Nickson.

Philip: Hit and hope is Wrexham's strategy. Their build-up play is so predictable, teams find it easy to counteract this with pace. Some of the players are like headless chickens running after lost causes.

How many midfielders do you need who get in each other's way? They haven't learned from the West Ham defeat. If you think Parkinson will turn it around you're very much mistaken. Old school manager.

Mike: Strikers, played in their natural position or in a good partnership, will always find the net. We don't have a working partnership, aren't playing people where they want to be and have rarely created as many chances as we did at Ewood [Park]. Our problems are all over the pitch.

Lucy: Wrexham are looking at the wrong end to solve their woes. What needs fixing first and fast is their leaky defence. They concede goals for fun. After 12 games they have let in an average of 1.5 goals per game.

This means that on average they can only win a game if they score two goals. Their defence has taken the 0-0 and the 1-1 draws off the table. They have taken the 1-0 victory off the table.

If they fix things at the back they will start to accumulate more points. They will move up the table and teams they play will have less confidence as they will have to work harder to get a goal. Unless this changes Wrexham will continue to be in the lower half of the Championship rather than pressing for a play-off place. Yes, good teams score goals, but they're also parsimonious at the back.

Wrexham suffered a 2-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, but the scoreline only told part of the story.

The Red Dragons registered 24 shots and created a host of opportunities at Ewood Park, with Sam Smith, Kieffer Moore and Joe Worrall all going close after the break.

Manager Phil Parkinson said his side must be more clinical with the chances they create.

Are you concerned by Wrexham's lack of a cutting edge in front of goal, or is it only a matter of time before the chances start being converted?

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Phil Parkinson says Wrexham must assess the quality of their end product following a goal-shy 2-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

The Red Dragons, who have lost three of their past six Championship matches, registered 24 shots against Rovers but only managed one on target.

Defeat leaves Wrexham 17th in the division, half a dozen points clear of the drop zone and also six points adrift of the play-off places.

Parkinson insisted his side must do better with the chances they create when they visit Sheffield United on Friday, 30 October (20:00 BST).

"We have to look at this performance, look at the quality of the crossing and why we didn't get enough first contacts on set plays," said Parkinson.

"We had nine. We had wide free-kicks. We had a few scrambles, but for the presence we had in that goal, we needed to do more."

According to stats, Wrexham are among the Championship's worst performers in goalscoring metrics.

Only three teams have averaged fewer than Wrexham's 3.4 shots on target per match, while their expected goals rate of 13.6 is the sixth-lowest in the division.

These stats are more concerning when you consider that the Racecourse side have kept only two clean sheets in 12 league fixtures.

"We had enough pressure today to produce more quality and test the keeper more than we did," added Parkinson whose side had scored four to beat Preston in their previous game.

"Football is about final-third end product. Last week we had it, today we couldn't find the moment.

"Football is about when the moments come. Can we show the clinical edge and at the very least make the goalkeeper work?

"I've got to reiterate that their defenders put their bodies on the line to block our shots, but we could have done better.

"If you look at the stats, 24 attempts and one on target. That's not enough. When we were in the final third, we were not good enough."

Image source, Matt West/Shutterstock

Phil Parkinson confirmed Ben Sheaf has resumed full training ahead of Wrexham's Championship contest with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The midfielder made his long-awaited return to action in the Red Dragons' 2-1 win over Southampton on 19 September but missed the matches against Derby County, West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End due to a groin issue.

Long-term absentees George Thomason and Max Cleworth have also joined in with training this week, although they are unlikely to be available until after the November international break.

"Sheafo is back in training today, full training," Parkinson said.

"Thommo and Max did part of the session. So it's a huge lift for everybody to see those boys out there.

"It really thickens up the numbers in the squad and it's good to get those lads back on the training pitch."

Last season's top scorer Josh Windass was withdrawn after just 15 minutes of his side's 1-1 draw with Derby earlier this month due to an ankle injury.

It is an issue that has kept him out of the games against West Brom and Preston, and the 32-year-old is also set to miss the fixture with Blackburn this weekend.

Wales international Nathan Broadhead has not featured in any of Wrexham's past eight Championship matches and has been sidelined with a thigh injury since mid-September.

Liberato Cacace has not featured for Wrexham this term and is continuing to recover from his latest calf injury.

"Josh has got a boot on to protect his ankle at the moment," added Parkinson.

"I think it's at the weekend that comes off and then Kevin [Mulholland, head physiotherapist] and his team can then really start assessing the ankle and look to progress Josh.

"Broady is out on the grass still doing his fitness work. The next stage for him is striking the ball, because it was a thigh injury.

"Libby is in the gym at the moment but that's more of a long-term injury."