Wrexham enjoyed a strong finish to the summer transfer window. But Phil Parkinson has been dealt an injury concern that could cause a reshuffle on the pitch.
Wrexham signed three new players on deadline day alone, with Ben Sheaf and Dom Hyam both joining on permanent deals, whilst Issa Kabore joined on loan from Man City.
It takes the club’s summer signings tally up to an impressive 13. More impressive is the fact that Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s Wrexham spent almost £40million on new players this summer alone.
Things are certainly looking up for Phil Parkinson’s side after a bit of a shaky start to the season, especially so after Wrexham beat Millwall 2-0 in their last Championship outing.
But Parkinson now has a new selection headache with news that Liberato Cacace has pulled out of international duty with New Zealand ahead of fixtures against Australia.
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Liberato Cacace injury update at Wrexham
Wrexham signed Cacace from Empoli earlier in the summer, paying a fee understood to be around the £2.5million mark. The 24-year-old Kiwi has since played twice in the Championship, and Wrexham fans have been impressed with Cacace’s performance down the left side of defence.
But Cacace missed three games before returning to action against Millwall, playing 77 minutes before coming off the pitch. New Zealand boss Darren Bazeley said he was unsure if Cacace would play in September despite calling him up, and although he played against Millwall, it seems as though his hamstring has flared up again.
Cacace has withdrawn from New Zealand’s upcoming international squad and will remain at the Racecourse over this September international break. Whether he’s fit to play against QPR in the next league outing remains to be seen.
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Wrexham have a few options following Liberato Cacace injury worry
It doesn’t seem like a serious injury for Cacace, and thankfully for Parkinson, he has a few options to deploy on that side side of defence with James McClean the obvious one to come in.
But Hyam arriving could also mean that Callum Doyle plays on the left, with Hyam then partnering Conor Coady and Max Cleworth in a back three.
Doyle’s preferred position is at centre-back and when Cacace is fit, it might be that Hyam replaces Coady or Cleworth in the XI, with Doyle certainly one who Parkinson will view as a long-term player in this Wrexham side. The same can go for Cacace who’s still a relatively young player.
And against QPR, it’s highly likely that Arthur Okonkwo starts in goal after Danny Ward’s horror injury against Millwall.