Wrexham have completed their pre-season fixtures and are now ready for their first Championship clash in 43 years.
Phil Parkinson’s side face a tough test as they travel to St Mary’s Stadium to face a Southampton side looking to make an impression following their relegation from the Premier League.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have kept their promise in backing Parkinson in the transfer market so far and the club are not finished yet.
Wrexham’s last second tier game ended in a 3-2 victory with striker Mick Vinter scoring a hat-trick. Hopes of a repeat victory could depend on one £40m transfer rumbling on.
Southampton could lose key player Tyler Dibling before Wrexham clash
Wrexham are without Jay Rodriguez for the season opener after the striker was ruled out with injury but Southampton could be missing a key player of their own.
Southampton are missing Taylor Harwood-Bellis through injury but there are also doubts over the future of young star Tyler Dibling.
As per journalist David Ornstein, Everton are interested in a £40m transfer for the winger but their latest offer has been rebuffed by the Saints.
Dibling impressed in his first full season in the Premier League last campaign with four goals and three assists from his 35 appearances.
The 19-year-old is now a doubt for the clash with Wrexham given the uncertainty surrounding his future and that can only be good news for Parkinson given the quality of the winger.
Southampton are unlikely to want to take any risks with Dibling given the amount of money involved in the potential transfer, whilst there is no way of knowing whether the player himself is in the right frame of mind to play.
Phil Parkinson has tough selection decisions for Wrexham
Parkinson himself has a number of tough decisions to make ahead of the game, most notably in attack following the acquisitions of Ryan Hardie and Josh Windass.
Wrexham are expected to sign Kieffer Moore imminently and Parkinson will have to decide whether the experienced Welsh international is ready to start the game after seeing such little action with his new teammates.
Sam Smith has also returned from injury and following his sensational exploits to get the club promoted last season, the 27-year-old will also be expecting the chance to shine from the start.
It is highly probable that Southampton will have control of possession and dictate the proceedings at St Mary’s. It is up to the Red Dragons to pose a threat when they counter-attack.
A combination of Smith and Hardie would give that pace on the break and the guile of Windass playing just in behind as a ten could be the formula to begin the season.