Wrexham take on Shrewsbury Town on Thursday evening but the visitors may end up being without their captain.
The last week or so has probably felt like an international break for Wrexham fans.
No Wrexham games, not even transfer speculation to really get stuck into during this January window.
Perhaps a quiet period is just what Wrexham needed though after a hectic period of five games in 14 days over the festive season.
Phil Parkinson wanted his players to recharge with Wrexham’s clash against Reading postponed.
Wrexham’s trip to Port Vale was then called off too, handing Wrexham a near-two week break ahead of facing Shrewsbury Town.
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Shrewsbury Town captain could miss Wrexham clash
This is a big game and one of Wrexham’s biggest rivalries outside of Chester.
Jack Marriott has learned all about the Wrexham v Shrewsbury rivalry and a win on Thursday night would be huge.
Not only will Parkinson want to win this derby clash but he will also want to secure a rather rare aware win.
Shrewsbury are making squad changes under Gareth Ainsworth as they sit mired in the League One relegation zone.
Three players have left in recent days and Ainsworth could suffer a blow with captain Carl Winchester now seeking an exit.
The Shropshire Star report that Winchester wants to leave Shrewsbury in order to join Derry City.
Winchester hails from Belfast and his family are living in the Northern Irish capital, with the distance taking its toll on him.
The midfielder could be sold before Thursday’s game but even if the deal isn’t done in time, Winchester may not be involved in order to avoid potential injury ahead of his exit.
Losing your captain for such a big game is far from ideal and this is the kind of thing Wrexham will be looking to take advantage of on Thursday night.
Wrexham’s recent record v Shrewsbury
Wrexham would make Thursday’s trip with confidence anyway, but it has been a while since the last league win at Shrewsbury.
Yes, Wrexham beat Shrewsbury 1-0 in the FA Cup back in January 2024 but the last away league win over the Shrews came back in April 2007.
Wrexham won 1-0 that day with Michael Proctor scoring the only goal of the game.
Wrexham have won the last two games over Shrewsbury but the record in the pre-Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds era wasn’t so great.
Shrewsbury won five of six meetings between January 2006 and April 2008, claiming some dominance over Wrexham.
The tables have turned now and Wrexham will be looking to add another three points in the push for promotion whilst potentially edging Shrewsbury closer to the drop.