Wrexham striker Jake Bickerstaff would be forgiven for feeling a little like the forgotten man as Phil Parkinson prepares for the Championship season.
Attacking changes have been a big feature of 2025 for Wrexham.
Sam Smith joined Wrexham from Reading, and Jay Rodriguez arrived from Burnley, handing Wrexham a boost in the promotion race.
The end of the season has brought more changes, with Steven Fletcher released and hero Paul Mullin leaving for Wigan Athletic.
Ryan Hardie joined Wrexham early in the summer before Josh Windass finalised his move to the STōK Cae Ras last week.
There could be even more changes to come with Wrexham interested in signing Kieffer Moore, which would bring Ollie Palmer’s future into even more doubt.
- READ MORE: Wrexham’s confirmed transfers in 2025 summer window, incomings, outgoings and latest rumours
Cheltenham Town take a look at Jake Bickerstaff
The forgotten man in all of this is Jake Bickerstaff, who is technically back with Wrexham after a loan spell with Altrincham.
Bickerstaff hasn’t featured for Wrexham in pre-season and, having been allowed to leave on loan last season, it’s difficult to imagine Championship minutes are incoming.
The 23-year-old has come up in the Wrexham ranks, but may fall victim to the club’s rapid rise through the leagues.
Bickerstaff was spotted training with Oldham Athletic earlier this summer, but there has been no movement on a deal there.
Fellow League Two side Cheltenham Town have now taken a look at Bickerstaff, as reported by The Athletic.
Bickerstaff featured as a trialist in Cheltenham’s 2-1 victory over Swansea City on Wednesday, and actually scored the opening goal.
Cheltenham didn’t confirm Bickerstaff’s identity, but a video of his goal meant Wrexham fans almost immediately knew it was him.
The striker was not involved against Bristol City on Friday night, though, and wasn’t even named on the bench.
Perhaps Cheltenham boss Michael Flynn is just taking it easy with Bickerstaff given his lack of game time of late, but the Robins now have something to think about in terms of a permanent deal.
Jake Bickerstaff’s time at Wrexham surely coming to an end
Wrexham’s rise means nobody is safe; just look at Mullin and Palmer, who spent most of 2025 on the sidelines.
Bickerstaff has fallen down the pecking order in recent times, first heading on loan to Accrington Stanley in 2024.
Altrincham was the next port of call for Bickerstaff, but first-choice striker Regan Linney couldn’t stop scoring.
Bickerstaff may now need a permanent home, and scoring in his first game as a Cheltenham trialist is a great start.
Wrexham fans would certainly wish Bickerstaff all the best if he did move on, with first-team minutes surely the priority after a couple of mixed loan moves.