Wrexham are busy preparing for Monday’s big game against Birmingham City but Phil Parkinson may have had one eye on his loaned-out players.
Wrexham have enjoyed a superb start to the season and still sit top of the League One table after Saturday’s fixtures.
The attention will soon turn to Monday’s clash with Birmingham City as Wrexham head to St Andrew’s.
The big-spending Blues can go level on points with Wrexham on Monday night and the game has garnered plenty of attention.
Celebrity involvement is rife and we have seen Tom Brady exchanging barbs with Rob McElhenney ahead of the clash.
Phil Parkinson will be fully focused on that game but will have had one eye on his loaned-out players over the weekend.
Halifax Town boss on Wrexham loanee Billy Waters
Wrexham allowed three players to leave the STōK Cae Ras on transfer deadline day.
Jake Bickerstaff has joined Altrincham whilst Sam Dalby has headed off to Dundee United, a move backed by Steven Fletcher.
Bickerstaff was an unused substitute against Yeovil Town on Saturday whilst Dalby was on the bench for Dundee United against Rangers.
Then there is Billy Waters, who was loaned back to former club Halifax Town on deadline day.
Wrexham resurrected a move for Waters to leave in the final hours of the window, paving the way for him to return to the National League side.
Waters started for Halifax against Eastleigh on Saturday afternoon and scored the opening goal of the game, bundling the ball home from close range.
The 29-year-old appears to be enjoying his time with Halifax again and has now been praised by boss Chris Millington.
Speaking to The Halifax Courier, Millington praise Waters for his impact in the final third, claiming he ‘goes to war’ against defenders much bigger than him.
Millington praised Waters for his pressing ability and believes that he has made a big impact since returning to the club.
“He’s done an awful lot for us since he’s come in and it might not be recognised, the work he does off the ball, but he goes to war with centre-halves who are twice his height and twice his weight,” said Millington.
“He holds up his fair share of balls that go into him, he competes for headers he should never have any right to win, he chases and presses opposition defenders so they can’t play forward with a lot of quality.
“Not only does that help the team but it also sets the tone for other players to match and follow and the lads respond to that. It’s great for him to get his reward because if he doesn’t put the ball in the back of the net he probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves, so we’re really pleased for him,” he added.
Waters unlikely to salvage Wrexham career
Halifax are certainly reaping the rewards of Waters’ comeback and he seems to have settled in well upon his return to the club.
Waters may well shine for Halifax but we would still suggest that his Wrexham career is over.
Signed from Barrow in 2023, Waters has managed just eight first-team appearances in a Wrexham shirt.
Last season’s loan move to Doncaster Rovers didn’t help and Wrexham actively made sure that Waters joined Halifax on deadline day.
Wrexham’s level continues to go up and if Waters wasn’t featuring in League Two, it’s unlikely that he will be brought back as Parkinson sits top of League One.
It’s great to see Waters getting back on track with Halifax but he will surely leave the STōK Cae Ras permanently in 2025, possibly off the back of a strong loan spell.