Manchester United youngster Mark Hughes has been making quite an impression with his combative displays since making his senior debut for Ron Atkinson’s side against Oxford United in the Milk Cup earlier in the season.

It is fitting that the 20-year-old from nearby Ruabon makes his senior international debut at the Racecourse having watched Wrexham from the Kop, which is packed this evening to cheer on Hughes and his Wales team-mates.

England manager Bobby Robson has been forced to make a number of changes to his side. Southampton’s 21-year-old central defender Mark Wright is handed his England debut.

With Sampdoria striker Trevor Francis forced to pull out, Paul Walsh of Luton Town has been promoted from the Under-21 side.

Another young striker, Leicester City’s Gary Lineker, 23, is included in Robson’s senior squad for the first time and is among the substitutes.

Image source, BBC Sport

Wales manager Mike England has handed out two debuts for this one in what can only be described as a baptism of fire.

Striker Mark Hughes and defender David Phillips both have the ultimate chance to shine.

England spoke in the week about how he believes young Manchester United forward Hughes can form a potent partnership with Ian Rush.

Image source, BBC Sport

Today we're going back to 1984 for one of Wales' famous encounters with England.

But how much do you know about Mark Hughes and Gary Lineker? David Beckham and Gareth Bale? Ian Rush and Michael Owen? Harry Winks and Daniel James?

Take our head-to-head quiz and find out.

Image source, BBC Sport

Rob Phillips
BBC Wales Football Correspondent

History will be made at the Racecourse – and that will add to Wales’ motivation to defeat the raiders from across the border.

Wales’ players and fans are still bitter over the decision by England (with Scotland soon after) to ditch the Home Internationals.

So Wales would love to sign off with a win and may not have a better chance against a weakened England side.

Mike England will surely tell his side to make the most of the occasion.

Who knows when the English will come calling again?

Image source, BBC Sport

Missing football? We certainly are. Normally we’d say let’s go back to a happier time, but the miners’ strike in 1984 cast a pretty heavy shadow, so let’s instead focus on the fun.

The year is 1984, George Michael is absolutely everywhere, though not top of the charts at the moment where Lionel Richie has just knocked Nena off her perch with her completely excessive number of red balloons.

Diana Princess of Wales is expecting her second child and many people are excited to see how Carl Lewis fares at the upcoming Olympics in Los Angeles.

This is both the 100th edition of the British Championship and the last, so Wales will be desperate to impress against an England side really struggling to find an identity under manager Bobby Robson.

Humbled in the qualifying rounds of the 1984 European Championships by Denmark, England must wait until at least Mexico 1986 before Robson will get the chance to impress on the biggest stage.

Wales, in contrast, arguably overachieved in qualifying, with their fate not sealed until a 3-0 defeat against the Soviet Union in their final qualifier, though they were left to rue that frustrating home draw with Iceland.

The Racecourse Ground is sold out for this one and Wales will feel they have a genuine chance of causing an upset.

So the scene is set. Let’s leave our uncertain, sport-less reality behind for a couple of hours and transport ourselves back to Wednesday, 2 May, 1984.

It's time for football.