Opinion

James McClean could clinch Wrexham record this season, he has a chance to make himself a club legend

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Wrexham star James McClean is closing in on one club record that could easily be broken in the 2025/26 Championship season.

Wrexham have undergone a seismic rise in recent years, having notched three successive promotions with Phil Parkinson in charge.

In that time, several big names have come and gone at the Racecourse Ground, with Wrexham ultimately having a huge pull concerning signings.

This has led to the likes of Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer and Elliott Lee representing the Red Dragons in the National League up to League One, whilst some other key men, such as former Premier League stars James McClean and Ben Foster have also notched time at the club.

At the age of 36, Irish international McClean is showing no signs of slowing down, which leaves him in a brilliant position to break one Wrexham record this season.

James McClean of Wrexham reacts
Photo by Chris Vaughan/Getty Images

Wrexham star James McClean could make history by becoming the top assist holder

Despite only being at the club for two seasons, Wrexham captain James McClean looks set to break the club’s assist record this season, with the Irishman only four behind the retired Dean Keates, who notched 23 for the Red Dragons.

McClean is currently fourth on the list, but considering the veteran’s average of 9.5 assists per season in all competitions, it would be expected that he can top the club’s charts by the end of the 2025/26 Championship campaign.

It is worth noting that assists haven’t always been recorded, meaning that the assist charts likely only reflect on more recent Wrexham history.

Phil Parkinson manager / head coach of Wrexham
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

Phil Parkinson will be heavily reliant on James McClean this season

In the transfer window, it is clear that Phil Parkinson is keen to bring in experienced heads to the camp, which will hopefully ease the transition into Championship football.

Wrexham have several players who have never played in England’s second tier, which is why Parkinson will be looking towards James McClean to instill motivation and confidence into the ranks.

McClean’s vast experience at both Premier League and Championship level makes him an incredibly valuable asset next season. It would be no surprise to see McClean’s place in the squad tied down, reflecting on the crucial role that he plays, even at the age of 36.

Pressure will be on Wrexham to perform next season, in spite of the jump up from League One, but with someone like McClean, who is able to weather the tide, there will be one less concern on Parkinson’s plate.