Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson is preparing for the Championship opener against Southampton as the big kick-off draws closer.
We could forgive any Wrexham fans for thinking they are still living in a dream as the Championship kick-off moves into focus.
Phil Parkinson is now just days away from leading Wrexham into a Championship clash, having inspired three straight promotions.
Wrexham take on Southampton in the Championship this weekend, making the long trip down to the South Coast.
The Saints are one of the favourites for promotion and will be looking to make an immediate return to the Premier League.
Wrexham would love to start the season with an away-day upset victory, but Ollie Rathbone won’t be involved.
Ollie Rathbone’s father on injury latest
Rathbone was a star in Wrexham’s promotion-winning campaign last season, making an enormous impact after joining from Rotherham United.
The midfielder racked up eight goals and three assists in League One last season, which represented the best goal return of his career so far.
Rathbone has played in the Championship with Rotherham in the past, and would have been viewed as a big player for Wrexham’s 2025-26 campaign.
Sadly, Rathbone picked up an ankle injury against Sydney FC and was sent straight to the hospital for an X-ray.
Rathbone hasn’t featured for Wrexham since that injury, and Parkinson confirmed that he would be in a boot for two weeks.
That time has now come, with Wrexham moving a step closer to finding out just how much time Rathbone will miss with his injury.
Rathbone’s father Mick – a former Blackburn Rovers player and legendary physio from his time at Preston North End – has posted on social media that Rathbone junior was having his boot taken off on Tuesday.
The length of Rathbone’s absence is still unclear, but this is a crucial step forward and will hopefully lead to a definitive answer.
Predicting Wrexham’s midfield against Southampton
Rathbone will miss the trip to Southampton, and Parkinson will certainly miss his boundless energy in midfield.
Wrexham are likely to go with a three-man midfield against Southampton, sticking with Parkinson’s 3-5-2 system.
This was the case against Groningen on Saturday, as new Wrexham signing Lewis O’Brien joined Matty James and George Dobson in midfield.
We would expect Parkinson to go with the same engine room against Southampton, with O’Brien effectively replacing Rathbone.
O’Brien possesses the energy Rathbone provides and looks to be a natural fit to step in with Rathbone still out.
O’Brien is a proven Championship midfielder, and while his goal return hasn’t been great over the course of his career, Parkinson will have confidence in him to step up and find the net more regularly – just as Rathbone did last season.