Ahead of Wrexham’s clash with Southampton, Red Dragons boss Phil Parkinson will be wary of one Saints player in particular, whilst knowing about the weaknesses of one defender.
Wrexham travel to Southampton in a bid to begin their 2025/26 Championship season with a win.
It will be a challenging contest for the Red Dragons, with Southampton looking to respond to their Premier League relegation under new boss Will Still.
Wrexham have prepared brilliantly for the challenges of the Championship, having signed eight new players across the summer, many of whom have proven experience at this level of the English football pyramid.
The Wrexham squad will be tested from the off in their clash against Southampton, and Phil Parkinson would have noted the quality that one striker has in particular for the Saints.
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Wrexham must be wary of Cameron Archer’s threat
Southampton boss Will Still is likely to turn towards Cameron Archer to lead the line for the Saints in their clash at home to Wrexham.
Archer, formerly of Aston Villa, has a brilliant record in the Championship, having scored 18 goals in 40 appearances in the second tier throughout his career.
He has also notched valuable Premier League experience, where he has been far less effective in front of goal, but he has still shown his quality.
Former Saints boss Russell Martin was a big fan of Archer, in spite of the struggles of last season, as, via Birmingham Live, he said: “I think he’s been really good for us,” Martin said in a recent press conference. “In his short spell here, he’s been a real threat. He’s improving all the time. I really love him as a boy… and I think he’s a brilliant signing for us. I think he’ll score a lot for us.”
Archer possesses bags of pace, and Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson will need to ensure that his defence gives him a yard or two so they are not exploited.
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Phil Parkinson could exploit Jack Stephens
Following a troubling 2024/25 Premier League season, it looks likely that Southampton centre-back Jack Stephens has retained the captain’s armband, and that he will almost definitely start in the clash against Wrexham.
Stephens will be keen to turn around his fortunes, but Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson will not give him an opportunity to settle into the tie.
Wrexham’s forwards, whether it is potentially Ryan Hardie and/or Kieffer Moore, must ensure that they put Stephens under pressure, especially when he is on the ball.
Defensive woes were at the centre of Southampton’s troubles last season, and if Wrexham are to notch success at the weekend on the South Coast, the Red Dragons’ forward line will need to be on their toes to give them a scare.