Wrexham are back in League One action this evening, playing host to Championship-bound Birmingham City.
The Tom Brady-owned club dominated headlines over the summer when they smashed the League One transfer record to sign just one player for £20m.
Birmingham City spent well in 2024 and already had a very good squad following several seasons in the Championship.
In turn, it is not at all surprising to see them kick off against Wrexham five points above Phil Parkinson’s side with two games in hand.
Birmingham beat Wrexham fairly comfortably in the reverse fixture earlier this season and are once again favourites to pick up a win this time around.
A loss for the Red Dragons will allow Huddersfield Town to overtake them and Wycombe Wanderers to open up an even bigger gap in second place.
- READ MORE: It’s now obvious which Wrexham players will leave in January to make room for Ryan Longman
Wrexham vs Birmingham City prediction
However, while fans probably don’t expect much from this game, one former player has issued a pretty positive prediction.
Bryan Hughes began his playing career with Wrexham in 1994 before joining Birmingham three years later.
Despite a strong affiliation with both clubs, Hughes, as per Leader Live, is backing the Welsh outfit to come out on top on Thursday evening.
He said: “The first game was a real spectacle for League One football. Two great teams going at each other and it was a really good game.
“I think you will get the same this time and it will be a fantastic game with lots of goals. Even though Birmingham are in brilliant form, I know how good Wrexham’s home form is.
“I think they will be difficult to beat and they could win the game.”
Bryan Hughes speaks on Wrexham career
A former attacking midfielder, Hughes made 94 appearances in all competitions for Wrexham, scoring 12 goals.
He went on to play 234 times for their upcoming opponents, finding the net on 34 occasions.
On his time with Wrexham and his relationship with Parkinson, he said: “It”s two clubs I feel really strongly about and got that emotional attachment to.
“Wrexham, both as a player and a manager, and Birmingham for nearly eight years service there.
“Wrexham gave me my opportunity as a young boy to flourish and express myself in a first team full of brilliant, experienced players which culminated in a move to Birmingham for £1million. That gave me the platform and the foundations for my career to progress.
“It is fantastic to see both clubs really high in League One, especially Wrexham. To see them there with the club how it is now and the infrastructure that’s in place.
“I have got a really good relationship with the management team. I worked with Phil Parkinson, Steve Parkin and Aiden Davison in my playing career so I know them well and they are a really good team.”