Wrexham

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George Thomason says he is grateful for the trust shown in him by manager Phil Parkinson since he joined Wrexham from Bolton Wanderers last summer.

The 25-year-old, who signed a three-year deal with the Red Dragons, is the only player of the club's 13 summer signings that had not featured in the Championship or at top-flight level prior to his switch to north Wales.

But Thomason has established himself as an important member of Parkinson's squad having featured 21 times across all competitions so far this season.

"I'm really thankful for that trust," said Thomason.

"I like to think that I'm someone that can be relied upon and I try and do everything that a manager or a coach asks of me - whether that's in the natural position or to try and learn elsewhere.

"I'm here to get the best out of myself and the best out of the group so whether I'm in the team or not, I want to push everyone else's standards because we've all got one key goal.

"The trust and faith he's (Parkinson) put into me, I'm one of the only boys that he signed that hasn't played in this division before, so I'm really thankful that he has that belief to keep playing me and feels as though I can be a dependable character in his team."

Thomason endured a testing start to his Wrexham career due to a thigh injury sustained during pre-season.

But after playing in just one of Wrexham's opening 10 league games of the season, Thomason has gone on to feature in all but two of his side's past 19 Championship outings.

"I feel as though that little niggle or muscle injury is well behind me," he said.

"I feel fit, I feel robust and feel back to how I've been in many seasons before.

"The feeling of being available is a real key attribute in sport and that's what I'm trying to do."

As a result of Liberato Cacace's worload being managed workload after numerous injury struggles and James McClean's departure to Derry City, midfielder Thomason has slotted in at left wing-back on numerous occasions of late.

And Thomason says he is happy to fill in wherever required as Wrexham bid to continue their push to secure a play-off spot this season.

"It's the most cliche answer, but I really don't mind (which position he plays). I just want to be out there and just play as many football games as possible," Thomason said.

"I feel as though when I play in that (left wing-back) position, I've put in reliable performances, and I've also had good continuity with the lads that I'm playing with on that side.

"I feel as though I'm stringing up some good relationships. I'm enjoying learning the role and being adaptable to different positions.

He added: "I'm not really someone that likes to be settled and just happy being at a certain level. I always want to try and squeeze the best bits out of my own game. I want to be the best player I can."

Sheffield Wednesday begin life without long-serving midfielder Barry Bannan with a home game against play-off chasing Wrexham.

The Owls, along with East Grinstead of the Isthmian League South East Division, are the only side in the top eight tiers of English football to record a home win this season.

Wrexham will arrive in south Yorkshire having won their past three away games for the first time in the second tier.

• Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in their past four league games against Wrexham (W3 D1), although the one they did fail to win was in this season's reverse fixture (2-2 in August).

• This will be Wrexham's first away league match at Sheffield Wednesday in two decades, since a 4-0 defeat in the third tier on 3 January 2005.

• Sheffield Wednesday have not scored in any of their past six league matches; last going seven in a row without finding the net in December 2005, under Paul Sturrock.

• Only Watford (24) and Coventry (16) have won more points from losing positions than Wrexham (15) in the Championship this season; three of which came in their last outing, a 3-2 win at Queens Park Rangers.

• Since the start of the 2019-20 season, Sheffield Wednesday's win percentage without Barry Bannan in Championship games is just 18% (2/11), compared to 28% when the Scotsman does play (56/201).

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Wrexham will monitor the fitness of Jay Rodriguez and Lewis Brunt after the duo suffered minor issues this week.

Rodriguez was among those who featured in the club's 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers in a friendly fixture on Tuesday - with the striker scoring his side's only goal.

But the 36-year-old - who has made five substitute appearances since returning from injury after Christmas - suffered a minor ankle issue late on against the Trotters, although Parkinson was confident the injury was not serious.

"We've had a good week in terms of the reserve game on Tuesday," said Parkinson.

"A couple of players got some good game time. Danny Ward, Rodriguez scored, it was good to see him back out there."

Parkinson added: "Jay, just right at the end of the game, jarred his ankle and he was a bit concerned because he'd had a problem there before.

"But the scans proved to be nothing serious so hopefully we can get him right for the weekend."

Defender Brunt - who has been sidelined since sustaining a thigh injury in Wrexham's 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough on 25 October - did not feature in the midweek fixture.

And Parkinson said Brunt will continue to be assessed by the club's medical staff.

"Brunty unfortunately has just got a bit of tightness in his thigh, we're going to re-scan that on Saturday morning," explained the Wrexham boss.

"It's not a serious injury, but it happens sometimes with players who are almost desperate to get back. They can pick up a little niggle on the journey back.

"We're not concerned about it, but it's just setting back in terms of missing that game."

Wrexham have no other injury concerns from their 3-2 win at Queens Park Rangers last time out ahead of Saturday's Championship contest with bottom side Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough (12:30 GMT).

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Wrexham will face Wisla Krakow during their 2026 pre-season schedule to celebrate the Polish side's 120th anniversary.

Wrexham say the match, which is provisionally scheduled to take place on 11 July at Synerise Arena in Krakow, will celebrate the two clubs' "shared culture and community focus".

Fans of Polish 1.Liga leaders Wisla Krakow, who are 13-time national champions, crowdfunded to help save the club from bankruptcy in 2019, eight years after Wrexham supporters famously came together to save their club.

The two sides also share historical links as, in 1946, Wrexham's Penley Hospital supported Polish soldiers and civilians following the Second World War.

Alfred Konkiewicz, a former Wisla Krakow player and vice-president, colonel of the Polish Army, and commander of the 70th Infantry Regiment during the September Campaign of 1939, is buried in Wrexham.

Wrexham club ambassador Mickey Thomas said: "As a former Wrexham player, who played for and represented the club on their European campaigns in the 1970s, I am so pleased to see us back to a level where we are now connecting with European clubs such as Wisla Krakow.

"The fact that there is a shared history between Wales and Poland and that both clubs have overcome tough times thanks to their community-focused approach will only make this 120th anniversary match in July even more special."

Wisla Krakow owner Jarosław Królewski said: "Wisla Krakow has existed for 120 years because it has always stood on three pillars: history, courage, and supporters.

"The crisis of 2019 showed that modern football cannot function without trust and genuine partnership with fans.

"The anniversary match with Wrexham is symbolic - a meeting of two clubs that have proven that even in the most difficult moments, it is possible to rebuild without losing one's identity."

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Jay Rodriguez scored for Wrexham in a 1-1 draw against Bolton Wanderers in the Central League.

The striker missed the opening half of the current campaign after an ankle injury in pre-season but has made five senior appearances across all competitions since returning to action after Christmas.

Phil Parkinson used the fixture against his former employers to give the likes of Rodriguez additional game time as they look to return to full match fitness.

Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward featured against the Trotters in his comeback from the elbow injury he sustained in late August.

Aaron James and Elliot Lee took part in the fixture having recovered from their own injury issues while Harry Ashfield, Ryan Barnett and Paul Mullin also featured.

Midfielder Lee and striker Mullin are in the frame to leave the Red Dragons on loan before Monday's 19:00 GMT transfer deadline while Wrexham have also received inquiries about the availability of academy product Ashfield.

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Wrexham's Championship contest with Bristol City at Ashton Gate will take place on Tuesday, 17 February.

The fixture was due to be played four days earlier on Friday, 13 February but was rearranged because of Wrexham's meeting with Ipswich Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup on the same night.

Kick-off in Bristol is scheduled for 19:45 GMT.

The Robins currently sit seventh in the Championship, one place and one point behind Phil Parkinson's side.

Wrexham have registered interest in Southampton striker Adam Armstrong, 28, with Saints wanting £15m for the Englishman. (Alan Nixon - requires subscription), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.

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Ollie Rathbone says Wrexham's QPR comeback showed why they are a play-off contender – just as he showed why he is rivalling the very best in front of goal.

Rathbone reckons the 3-2 win at Loftus Road typified the mentality Phil Parkinson has built in the Red Dragons' dressing room.

But it was the 29-year-old midfielder who the fans were serenading loudest in west London after his injury-time winner.

It is the fourth league goal this season for Rathbone who missed the first three months of the campaign after a pre-season ankle injury.

And that is despite playing just 266 minutes in the Championship, with two league starts and seven appearances off the bench.

It means Rathbone has averaged a goal every 67 minutes of league action – far outstripping the rest of the Championship top scorers.

It was Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson who highlighted his goals-per-minute ratio as he heaped on praise for Rathbone and fellow goalscorer Josh Windass.

But Rathbone himself insisted it was what the result meant for the team that was of more importance, saying: "It was a difficult start to the season for me, it felt I was playing catch up a little bit but now I'm feeling good and loving being part of this group.

"We had great run over Christmas with four wins in a row and we were all keen to show it wasn't a flash in the pan.

"So after a rocky week and up against it at 2-1 down, to get the win is amazing."

The away win came after coming unstuck at the Cae Ras in successive fixtures, first losing against Norwich before conceding in the last minute to draw with Leicester.

"I think it shows a lot about the group and the mentality that we were really disappointed with drawing with Leicester who have been Premier League Champions and FA Cup winners not so long ago," Rathbone said.

"It was a kick in the teeth and we were kicking ourselves for throwing away two points and then, with five minutes to go [at QPR] we're looking at the clock with a similar feeling.

"But I thought then we showed why we're in the position we are in the league."

The win moved Wrexham into the top six for the first time since promotion to this level, but although Rathbone admitted the game could prove a significant moment, he added: "If you get carried away you can easily fall down the table.

"But for now we're in a great place, the team's in a really good spirits, the group's together, and it's really enjoyable to be part of."

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Phil Parkinson says Wrexham are "better equipped" to face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (15:00 GMT) than they were in the reverse fixture in September.

Julien Stephan's side beat the Red Dragons 3-1 at Stok Cae Ras early on in the campaign, although Wrexham have significantly improved in the months since that contest.

"I think we're better equipped now. It's just adapting to the league," said Parkinson.

"We showed the other night [against Leicester City], if you look back at the performance, the lads gave so much.

"It was a really good performance in difficult conditions against a team which was in the Premier League last year.

"When we're beating ourselves up about drawing with an ex-Premier League team, it just shows where we've come from. But there's an expectation on us now as individuals and collectively that we can compete with anybody at the level."

Wrexham have no fresh injury concerns following the 1-1 draw with Leicester on Tuesday.

Rangers trail Wrexham by just one point in the Championship table, and Parkinson feels the league position of the two clubs will be reflected at Loftus Road.

"It's a tight ground, they're a competitive team who have been in and around the mix for most of the season and they're solid defensively," he said.

"It will just be another tight game separated on detail I'm sure.

"It's really about us concentrating ourselves and picking the team who we feel is right for this one."

He added: "QPR is going to be another test from a team, I've lost count of the amount of years they've been in the Championship, that are striving to get into that play-off zone.

"I always loved playing there as a player, particularly at Reading, it was a close proximity to Reading and managing there, there's always a good atmosphere and I know we've sold out our tickets - there's a big demand for it.

"It's one of those traditional grounds in terms of the atmosphere and it really is a great place to play and manage."

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A new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).

'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.

Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.

The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.

The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".

Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.

"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."