Wrexham host Salford City on Tuesday night in the first match of their EFL Trophy campaign.
Wrexham will be aiming to carry their momentum from the league into the EFL Trophy after starting like a house on fire in League One.
Phil Parkinson’s men have won four of their first five matches to become the early pacesetters in the league as they aim to achieve a historic third successive promotion.
While finishing in the play-offs or reaching the Championship is their main aim, the Reds will also be eyeing up the chance of lifting some silverware.
Wrexham have been placed in a group with Port Vale, Wolves under-21s and Salford, with Parkinson expected to make wholesale changes from the side that thrashed Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.
Wrexham team news ahead of Salford City
Parkinson has the luxury of selecting from a large squad filled with quality but he still faces some injury concerns ahead of Salford’s visit.
The Wrexham boss is still without defensive midfielder George Evans, who injured his groin in training last month. Evans missed the wins over Reading, Peterborough and Shrewsbury but could return to action in the next week or two.
Parkinson also confirmed that captain James McClean played with an injection in his foot on Saturday and requires a ‘period of rest’ while Elliot Lee needs to see a specialist, although his knock isn’t said to be anything serious.
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An update was also shared on midfielder Andy Cannon – who missed the win over Shrewsbury – but the 28-year-old only had a tight hamstring and wasn’t risked.
With that being said, here’s how Wrexham could lineup for their home clash against Salford…
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Predicted Wrexham lineup vs Salford City
Parkinson could make up to nine changes for this match, starting with Arthur Okonkwo in goal, who should be replaced by Callum Burton.
A completely changed defence should line up ahead of Burton, with Luke Bolton starting at right-back, a centre-back trio of Dan Scarr, Lewis Brunt and Will Boyle, while Sebastian Revan should come in for McClean on the left.
With Evans sidelined and Cannon unlikely to be risked against the League Two outfit, George Dobson can continue flourishing in his defensive midfield role alongside the incoming James Jones and record-signing Ollie Rathbone.
As for the strikers, perhaps it’s now time for Parkinson to unleash Paul Mullin from the off for his first start of the season, alongside Modou Faal.
Jack Marriott and Ollie Palmer have done excellent together however, they do deserve some much-needed rest.
Wrexham (3-5-2): Burton; Brunt, Scarr, Boyle; Barnett, Dobson, Jones, Rathbone, Revan; Mullin, Faal.