In a week in which Wrexham’s injury issues deepened, at least one member of Phil Parkinson’s squad is putting his old spell on the treatment table behind him.
Parkinson confirmed that Arthur Okonkwo will miss six weeks at a minimum after the goalkeeper broke his wrist. Luke Bolton and Will Boyle, meanwhile, are facing around a month out of action themselves after picking up issues as Wrexham drew 1-1 with Port Vale in the EFL Cup.
Veteran striker Steven Fletcher, meanwhile, has suffered a set-back in his own attempted recovery. As such, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson is in line for a first start when Wrexham travel to Stockport County on Saturday afternoon.
But it’s not all bad news.
Max Cleworth, Parkinson’s 22-year-old central defensive colossus, has come through the last two League One fixtures unscathed, playing the full 90 minutes in each after missing five games with an ankle ligament tear.
And Cleworth can see the positives despite only recently recovering from the first injury concern of his professional career.
Max Cleworth feeling strong again after Wrexham injury issues
“It was a new experience being injured,” Cleworth admits, speaking to The Leader as he continues to build up his sharpness again. “But I was lucky. It wasn’t too bad.
“I owe a lot to the medical stuff for helping me get back so quick and I am feeling stronger in my ankle. So hopefully, the more I play, the more it starts to get better and we can start putting some good performances together.”
Cleworth certainly isn’t performing like a man who has just stepped off the treatment table.
Parkinson lauded Cleworth after Wrexham defeated Mansfield Town 1-0 last time out at the Racecourse Ground, the Frodsham-born powerhouse making a game-high seven clearances as he, Dan Scarr and Tom O’Connor laid the foundations for a return to winning ways.
Alongside Wrexham and surprise packages Mansfield, fellow League One newcomers Stockport have taken to life in the third tier like the proverbial duck to water. Dave Challinor’s side hammered Bolton Wanderers 5-0 last weekend, and can move to within one single point of Wrexham with a victory on Saturday.
Stockport also put five past Wrexham in League Two last term, though Parkinson’s team did get some measure of revenge during a 2-1 win on the final day. A victory in which Cleworth grabbed an assist for Andy Cannon’s 88th minute decider.
Cleworth ready to resume Wrexham’s Stockport County ‘rivalry’
“There is a bit of a rivalry between us, so it is a game we look forward to,” Cleworth smiles. “Stockport is not too far away and they are another big club with good history.
“They have had their dark days and had similarities to Wrexham – they fell even lower – so they have done well to get back up to League One and you have got to give them a lot of credit for that.
“There are similarities between the clubs and there is respect there but they are a team that we would like to beat and go and put in a good performance.
“We know their threats and they are a very good team. It is going to be another tough game and one we will have to be ready for.”