Wrexham are the visitors to the swansea.com this Friday evening and you get the feeling they have a confidence about them that they could well take the points in this fixture.
Wrexham are fourteenth going into this game with a nine game unbeaten run behind them. Manager Phil Parkinson has reintroduced club captain, James McClean to the side with Libby Cacace out injured and the expectation is he will play on Friday night. Centre back Conor Coady and Ryan Hardie haven't been regular picks for Parkinson but Hardie did get on the pitch in the 2-2 draw against Watford at the Racecourse last time out. Cody’s demise started when the Dragons lost at home to Queens Park Rangers in mid September. Nathan Broadhead raised eyebrows when Wrexham spent a rumoured seven million pounds on the player in the summer. He has scored three goals but hasn’t played in every game missing a few. That being said he has featured in the vast majority of their games and will always be a danger to any defence in the championship.
Lewis O’Brien who made a huge difference to the Swans under Alan Sheehan last season is now at Wrexham. He did feature in the Watford game but spent the previous two fixtures on the bench. He too has three goals with two assists. This has prompted Parkinson to speak out about his selection of players this season. "Obviously it doesn't matter what age you are, you're always disappointed when you're not in the team but the training standards from Jimmy (McClean) have been brilliant and that's why when he got put back in the team, he was able to just pick up the pace of the game as he did. Inevitably everybody wants to play. I think it goes without saying”
Parkinson must have sensed some unease to volunteer that information, and with so many players on big wages and egos in this Wrexham journey he maybe felt he was at a stage to speak publicly as well. With eight goals Kieffer Moore is always a huge threat to any side, he has only missed one game this season and seems to have an incredible recovery rate when you see some of the knocks he has had.
Ollie Rathbone is back after an injury in pre season and made his first appearance of the season off the bench against Watford. He will expect to be included in the squad, he was last seasons player of the season (pitch side) at Wrexham and in his own words he has found it tough, "I felt a million miles away at times but I've worked really hard, kept myself ultra professional and just got on with things, and just backed myself that when I get that chance, I'd be able to take it. But it has been really difficult. I won't downplay it, it's been a really tough period for me and I felt like the forgotten man at times, but hopefully I can kick on from here." Rathbone scored the equaliser against Watford deep into added time on Saturday. "I saw it coming to me, just composed myself and made sure I hit the target. I'm obviously delighted and it was really nice. All the players and all the staff seemed genuinely happy for me because everyone knows that I've had a difficult few months. But all I wanted was just to feel like a part of this team, and just try and help us be successful."
Playmaker and consistent performer Josh Windass (below) will be thirty two next month and is without doubt a danger man in any game. He scored a well taken goal on Saturday and can turn games round with one pass. Possibly the Dragons best signing on a free transfer from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer.
It’s players like Windass and Moore that are match winners.
Windass as an example has scored six goals this season with three assists, he really does need attention as he creates and scores goals. His range of vision and ability on the ball an exceptional quality. If Wrexham do have frailties then it is at the back, they can be exposed with pace as has happened this season. Swans head coach, Vitor Matos will be hoping his tactic of a fast paced player in Ronaldo or Inoussa can break that defensive line and deliver positivity in this game. It’s a fixture that Zān Vipotnik has to start and speculation over him will increase this and next month. Despite rumours West Ham have made no direct contact with the Swans but we must expect interest this coming transfer window. That will deliver butterflies when his name is mentioned in any transfer speculation. Eom was way off his recent performances on the weekend but as this is a home game he must also be in Vitor’s thoughts. Josh Tymon has responded well to treatment this week and looks likely to play which is excellent news. It seems as well we will see Ethan Galbraith starting at right back (from Bitor’s recent comments) and we have to look forward to the James McClean v Gonçalo Franco clash in midfield. That in itself will certainly cause flash points if they face up in this game. We can only hope they do, it will add some spice to the fixture for sure.
It’s match day tomorrow, an 8pm kick off which will see another big attendance at the swansea.com, in fact as it stands the home ends are sold out but tickets are still on sale today for Wrexham fans via their official website.