Barnett hopes to return against Shrewsburypublished at 10:00 16 January
10:00 16 January
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Image caption,
Ryan Barnett has assisted seven goals in League One this season
Ryan Barnett hopes to be fit in time for Wrexham's League One game against Shrewsbury Town on Thursday.
The 25-year-old wing-back missed the 1-0 win against Peterborough with a hip injury, but is hoping to prove his fitness to manager Phil Parkinson before the trip to The Croud Meadow to face struggling Salop.
"I've been back in light training, and it's up to the manager to decide whether I'm ready or not," said former Shrewsbury player Barnett.
"It's been disappointing with the injury. I don't want to miss any games, but sometimes these things happen. It's part and parcel of the game. I've looked after myself and the physio has been really good with me."
Barnett has been in fine form this season, creating seven goals while having the highest number of assists in League One.
Having joined from Solihull Moors in 2023 when Wrexham were playing in the National League, he is now in his fourth season with the club.
Barnett, who began his career with hometown club Shrewsbury, is looking forward to facing them again at Oteley Road after being part of Wrexham's 1-0 win last season in the FA Cup third round.
"I had a few boos and a few shouts from the fans in the warm-up. I was on the bench, but coming on I didn't get much from the fans," he said.
"I think they understand I was there as an academy kid more than a first-team player. I felt quite a lot of respect from the Shrewsbury fans."
A third consecutive promotion remains a possibility, and Barnett is confident they can keep up the pace with current leaders Birmingham City and second-placed Wycombe Wanderers, who have just lost their manager Matt Bloomfield to Luton Town.
"We started off great as a team," added Bennett. "And we've put ourselves in a great position for the second half of the season to go and push towards the top end.
"It's just a case of continuing that form and the positivity we have in that dressing room, and the confidence we've got from the platform we've given ourselves. It's going to be a great run-in."
Wrexham's EFL Trophy tie at Port Vale re-scheduled published at 16:42 8 January
16:42 8 January
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Wrexham's EFL Trophy third-round tie at Port Vale has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, 4 February at 19:00 GMT.
The game had been due to be played on Tuesday night, but was postponed because of safety concerns over areas surrounding Vale Park after adverse weather.
Wrexham's League One match at Reading on Saturday is also postponed due to Reading making the third round of the FA Cup.
It means Wrexham will not be in action until Thursday, 16 January with a trip to Shrewsbury Town at 20:00 GMT.
Wrexham's EFL Trophy tie at Port Vale postponedpublished at 14:52 7 January
14:52 7 January
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Wrexham's EFL Trophy third-round tie at Port Vale on Tuesday has been postponed because of safety concerns over areas surrounding Vale Park.
The game was called off at around 14:00 GMT, five hours before kick-off.
"The Vale Park pitch passed this morning's inspection but the condition of the surface was deemed doubtful, with further snow forecast later this afternoon and into the evening," a statement issued by both clubs said.
"A decision to postpone the fixture was taken due to safety concerns relating to the areas surrounding the stadium, which remain dangerous for those expected to attend."
The clubs say a new date for the round of 16 tie will be announced in due course.
Risking key players in EFL Trophy would be 'madness' published at 05:10 7 January
05:10 7 January
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Phil Parkinson will make wholesale changes for Wrexham's EFL Trophy tie against Port Vale on Tuesday (19:00 GMT) after suggesting it would be "madness" to risk key players after the busy festive period.
Wrexham travel to League Two side Vale in the third round of the competition, and Parkinson will give opportunities to fringe players to prevent his leading men suffering from burnout.
"There's no way lads who've played a lot of football can be risked in that game," said Parkinson.
"It would be complete madness to do that. A few of them deserve a well-earned rest now."
Wrexham played four games in nine days over the holiday period, three of which they won with late Steven Fletcher goals, but they are not in action in League One again until 16 January.
That gives Parkinson a chance to rest many of his first-choice players and allow the likes of Elliot Lee, Lewis Brunt, Luke Bolton and Ryan Barnett the chance to recover properly from injuries.
"Because of the injuries, our ability to freshen the team up over Christmas and New Year was limited," said Parkinson.
"So I've had to ask the same lads to keep going.
"We know it's our job, getting on with things, but there's a few we've been sending out there strapped up. I've got to make sure we give those lads a bit of time off now."
Parkinson said striker Jack Marriott is "not far away" from returning after suffering a broken leg in October.
Another long-term injury absentee, goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, made his comeback in last Saturday's 1-0 win over Peterborough after two months out with a broken wrist.
We can still go up another level - Rathbonepublished at 11:40 6 January
11:40 6 January
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Ollie Rathbone insists Wrexham can still reach "another level" after a hat-trick of festive home wins left them two points off the top of League One.
Saturday's 1-0 victory over Peterborough made it three wins from four over the busy Christmas and New Year period, drawing Wrexham level on points with second-placed Wycombe and two shy of leaders Birmingham.
It was also the third home game in a row they have carved out a late winner, all courtesy of substitute Steven Fletcher.
"It's the sign of a good team - especially if you want to get promoted - that you can't get into a slump or a poor run of form," said midielder Rathbone, who claimed an assist for Fletcher's 87th-minute winner over Posh.
"We haven't allowed that to happen. After losing at Barnsley, we've shown character and belief, and big players have turned up in big moments. Fletch has done that for us in recent games.
"There's definitely more to come. Barney (wing-back Ryan Barnett) said something last week that we've not reached our ceiling yet and I couldn't agree more.
"We can go up another level and hopefully that'll come in this second half of the season."
Wrexham now have a breather from their promotion campaign, with no league fixture until they travel to Shrewsbury on 16 January.
But they go to Port Vale in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night and boss Phil Parkinson is expected to offer some players a rest after the hectic holiday period.
"Four games in something like nine days is quite demanding - physically and mentally," said Rathbone.
"It'll be good to have a little break [from the league] before stepping things up again."
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