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Wrexham will be missing two important players when they take on Stoke City in their vital EFL Championship clash this weekend.
The Red Dragons enter the weekend sitting seventh in the standings, four points adrift of Hull City, who hold the last playoff spot. Wrexham have managed only one win from their last five league outings and are aware that a significant turnaround is needed to keep their Premier League ambitions on track.
Phil Parkinson addressed the media at his pre-match press conference on Thursday, confirming that January recruit Zak Vyner and influential midfielder Ben Sheaf would both miss this weekend's game. Wales international Nathan Broadhead has also been flagged as a concern with a "tight hamstring" sustained during last weekend's loss to Birmingham City.
Wrexham Team News vs. Stoke City
Wrexham will be without Zak Vyner (groin) and Ben Sheaf (knee) as they welcome Stoke City to the STōK Cae Ras on Saturday. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Parkinson stated: "Yeah, Matty (James) is fine. He was never going to play more than 60 minutes at the weekend, but he's fine."
"Ben (Sheaf) is still not with us on the training pitch, he has had some training, but he's had a minor setback. Broadhead has got a tight hamstring, so we're just going to monitor that up until the weekend. Zak Vyner has got a rescan on his groin tomorrow (Friday), but I don't think there is anything new."
When pressed on whether late fitness assessments would be carried out for Vyner and Broadhead, the Wrexham boss added: "No, Zack won't make the weekend. Zack has got a scan tomorrow. He's feeling a lot better, but it'll be too soon. Nathan, we will assess very close to kickoff."
Wrexham Predicted Lineup vs. Stoke City
Parkinson may ring in a few changes from the side that delivered one of Wrexham's most disappointing performances of the campaign against Birmingham City—a match in which the Red Dragons failed to register a single shot on target throughout.
That lackluster attacking display could prompt Parkinson to shake up his forward options, with leading scorer Josh Windass expected to be brought back into the starting eleven. Dominic Hyam may also return to central defence after being rested for the Birmingham defeat.
Arthur Okonkwo is expected to keep his place between the posts, while Hyam could line up alongside Max Cleworth and Callum Doyle at the back. Issa Kabore and George Thomason appear the natural picks at wingback, with Matty James and George Dobson in contention for central midfield roles.
Windass could be paired with Lewis O'Brien in attacking midfield, with Broadhead's involvement uncertain due to his hamstring concern. Kieffer Moore is expected to retain his position as the lone frontman.