Wrexham secured an impressive draw against Premier League giants Chelsea while Phil Parkinson dropped a hint on Luke Young’s successor as captain.
Wrexham continue to prepare for their return to League One as the second match of their Wrex Coast tour ended with a 2-2 draw against former Champions League winners, Chelsea.
Phil Parkinson started several of his new signings, with Sebastien Revan, Lewis Brunt and George Dobson holding their own against superior opposition.
The match was played at a high intensity, as journalist Marc Mayo was left impressed by the energy Wrexham showed in the contest.
James McClean set the tone for their pressing as the Irishman was involved in a scuffle early on while noticeably playing as a striker against the Blues, a position he’s not too familiar with.
That wasn’t the only decision Parkinson made in the contest, as the Wrexham boss handed the captain’s armband to two different players in the match.
READ MORE: James McClean: Profile, Height, Transfer, Salary, Net Worth and More
James McClean and George Evans wore Wrexham captains’ armband vs Chelsea
In the summer, Wrexham lost their captain and vice-captain, as the long-serving duo of Luke Young and Ben Tozer were released at the end of their contracts.
The pair have since moved onto pastures new, with Young staying in League Two after signing for Cheltenham Town while Tozer dropped down to the National League to join Forest Green Rovers.
In their push for promotion last term, it was underrated how much of an impact that duo had on Wrexham’s success, utilising their experience and know-how in the dressing room.
Tozer and Young were also reliable figures on the pitch, rarely putting a foot wrong, with the question now being who replaces the duo as Wrexham’s captain and vice-captain.
Well, in the draw against Chelsea at the Levi’s Stadium, McClean started with the armband and then when he was substituted in the 84th minute, the 35-year-old handed the captaincy over to George Evans, who came off the bench in the second half.
With Wrexham yet to decide their captains for the new season, this could serve as a clear hint from Parkinson.
James McClean is the perfect candidate to replace Luke Young as Wrexham’s captain
If McClean is given the captaincy for the 2024/25 campaign, nobody associated with Wrexham can have any complaints, as he’s the perfect successor to Young.
The former Republic of Ireland international has played at the highest level of English football, turning out 158 times for the likes of Sunderland and West Brom.
That experience of playing in the Premier League is reflected in his current behaviour, as despite approaching the twilight years of his career, he sets the standard on and off the pitch with his work ethic and incredible fitness levels.
Former Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster has described him as the hardest-working player he’s shared a dressing room with and it’s that sort of praise that shows why he deserves the captaincy.
He’s an instrumental player for Parkinson, who puts in a shift whatever position he’s utilised in, with the veteran grabbing 10 assists from left-back and midfield last term.
Indeed, the only part of his game that lets him down is his disciplinary record and capacity to go over the top, as last season he received 15 yellow cards in 44 appearances and missed two games through suspension.