Wrexham take on QPR in the Championship on Saturday, in what could be a good chance to see some new faces in action.
Wrexham will be looking to keep their momentum going after picking up their first Championship win over Millwall last time out.
The September international break probably came at a bad time for Phil Parkinson’s side in that sense. But it would also have been a good time for his new-look side to really get to know each other.
Wrexham signed three new players on deadline day to take their summer signings tally up to 13, with Ben Sheaf, Dom Hyam and Issa Kabore all arriving on deadline day.
Expect Sheaf to come straight into the XI following his £6.5million move from Coventry City. Hyam though may be benched for the time being with the likes of Callum Doyle, Conor Coady, and Mex Cleworth impressing.
Whether or not Kabore starts will be very interesting.
Will Issa Kabore start for Wrexham against QPR?
Wrexham have signed Kabore on loan from Man City and it’s an incredible seventh loan move away from the Etihad for the Burkina Faso international, who has previously represented the likes of Luton Town, Marseille, Benfica and Werder Bremen on loan, among others.
A right-back who can also operate as more of a right wing-back, he bolsters a position that didn’t have too many options before deadline day, with Ryan Longman and Ryan Barnett who are both more attacking-minded full-backs, like Kabore.
It shows the type of system that Parkinson wants to play this season, with wing-backs bombing up the pitch. Kabore also arrives as a vastly experienced, tried and tested player with much more experience than the likes of Barnett and Longman, so a start against QPR could be on the cards.
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Phil Parkinson on Wrexham squad depth after deadline day
With Kabore, Sheaf and Hyam arriving at the Racecourse, Wrexham now look to have a very strong, very big first-team squad. So big in fact that Wrexham’s 25-man squad list had some notable absentees at first with Ollie Rathbone being left out, but having now returned.
Speaking ahead of the weekend, Parkinson gave his verdict on his new side. He said: “We’ve tried to strike the balance right between the positions on the pitch and the competition of different age groups.
“We’ve tried to do that to get the balance right in the dressing room. It’s a long process as everybody knows and a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes so credit to everybody for that.
“I’m pleased with the options we’ve got – four games in, there’s a lot to look forward to.”
Kabore, Longman and Barnett are three very good options in the same right wing-back position. But all three could arguably play higher up the pitch, as more of a defensive full-back, or even on the other flank should that be needed.
And given his experience of top flight football and of international football too, Kabore could yet prove to be a very underrated signing for Wrexham this season.
The game against QPR kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.