Transfer regret for Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney? Wrexham left ‘short’ in key area as League Two promotion push gathers pace

The Red Dragons did bolster their ranks during the winter window, bringing in defender Luke Bolton and forward Jack Marriott on deadline day. They are now well stocked at opposing ends of the field, but injuries to the likes of James Jones, George Evans and Tom O’Connor mean that Phil Parkinson is light on numbers in the middle of the park.

Wrexham’s boss has said of that predicament heading into a meeting with MK Dons: “We have got good a selection up front, players like Aaron Hayden and Jordan Tunnicliffe at the back and Ben Tozer who wasn't in the team on Saturday, Luke Bolton and Jacob Mendy, so we have got a lot of players. Obviously we are a bit short in the midfield area but we will adapt to that and we will manage that. We have still got options. You are going to get injuries, that is part and parcel of the game, and we got a couple on Saturday so we will have a bit of a headcount. We will have a good look at the injured players and think long and hard about the team for MK Dons but go down there ready to give a good account of ourselves, and see if it is good enough on the night.”

Wrexham edged out old adversaries Notts County in their last League Two fixture, but are now preparing for three successive away games against the Dons, Gillingham and Forest Green Rovers. Parkinson added on that challenge: “We are ready for that. We are prepared for that.”

Back-to-back wins have returned Wrexham to the League Two automatic promotion places, with only three points separating them from table-topping Stockport. They still boast at least one game in hand on all of those around them, meaning that the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary cameras could have another title celebration to capture in 2024.