Phil Parkinson will have had two weeks to prepare for Wrexham’s clash with Stoke City, and while his main focus will have been on ensuring he gets the best from his side, he will have looked at how to nullify the Potters.
The Red Dragons are currently on an unbeaten run of four matches in the Championship and will be aiming to continue this when they travel to face Stoke on Saturday with Parkinson potentially considering a change to the Wrexham team for the fixture.
Mark Robins’ side have made a good start to the campaign, as they currently occupy a place in the play-offs; however, with Wrexham’s recent form on the road, Parkinson will continue to evolve against Stoke making him confident his side can earn a result.
Following the latest update from the Stoke camp, the manager of the Welsh side may now be relishing the fixture, sensing their chances have improved to earn all three points.
Bae Jun-ho is likely to be ruled out of the Stoke City and Wrexham clash
Stoke City made a fine start to the Championship campaign; however, their progress has stalled slightly as they have drawn their last three fixtures in the division.
Bae Jun-ho, Stoke’s Player of the Year in 2023-24, now appears to be ruled out of the game, having suffered an injury while on international duty with South Korea.
He has featured in every league game for the Potters this campaign and will be a significant loss for Mark Robins, and even more worryingly for the club is that it is not the first time he has suffered this type of injury.
A statement from Chozun Biz read: “Bae Jun-ho injured his right shoulder during training held a day before the friendly against Saudi Arabia on the 10th.
“Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results showed signs of dislocation, so it was decided he would return to his club.
“Bae Jun-ho was released from the national team and left for England on the morning of the 12th, local Saudi time.”
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Bae Jun-ho’s impact at Stoke City
The 22-year-old attacker is a tireless worker whose value is not only going forward but also being the first line of defence as he works to get the ball back.
While his stats are not always considered the best when you compare them to other top performers in the division, his impact is significant for what Stoke are trying to achieve.
| 2025/26 Championship Stats | |
| Successful Passes | 143 |
| Pass Accuracy % | 85.1% |
| Chances Created | 8 |
| Successful Dribbles | 12 |
| Dribble Success | 63.2% |
| Touches | 279 |
| Touches in Opposition Box | 13 |
| Tackles | 13 |
| Duels Won | 37 |
| Duels Won % | 52.1% |
| Recoveries | 32 |
| Possession Won Final 3rd | 6 |
Bae Jun-ho may have only provided one assist this season, but he was beginning to find fine form just before the international break, impressing against both Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough.
For an attacker his defensive stats are immense, and he is a crucial player in transition for the Potters, with the likes of Jamie Donley, Sorba Thomas and Divin Mubama aiming to provide the quality in front of goal.