Wrexham

There are four third-round ties in the FA Cup on Friday, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• MK Dons v Oxford United - BBC Three Counties Radio and BBC Radio Oxford

• Port Vale v Fleetwood - BBC Radio Stoke

• Preston v Wigan - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Wrexham v Nottingham Forest - BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Nottingham

All kick-offs 19:30 GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction here

And find out how to follow the FA Cup across the BBC this weekend here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Preston v Wigan" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Wrexham v Nottingham Forest".

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

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Wrexham have announced that three first year professionals will go out on loan for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

Midfielder Alex Moore has joined Colwyn Bay while forward Rio Owen will link up with fellow Cymru Premier side Caernarfon Town.

Defender Tom Kelly has joined Northern Premier League Division One West side Bootle on loan.

"All at Wrexham AFC would like to wish Alex, Rio and Tom all the best for the rest of the season as they continue their development in senior football," Wrexham said in a statement.

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Issa Kabore will return to Wrexham on Friday as Kieffer Moore continues to progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Kabore, 24, has not featured for the Red Dragons since sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty in November.

But he returned to action for Burkina Faso at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday and is poised to rejoin the Wrexham squad imminently after seeing his national team lose 3-0 to Ivory Coast in the last 16 of the competition earlier this week.

"Issa will be back in Wrexham [on Friday] so obviously I'll be exchanging messages with him," said Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson.

"I think the important thing is that he came through his performance at the back end of the game unscathed and I think that's the key for us.

"So we need to see him, have a chat with him and then build him up gradually for the next couple of weeks."

Striker Moore missed the wins at Blackburn Rovers and Derby County after sustaining a hamstring issue during Wrexham's 2-1 win over Preston North End on 29 December.

But Parkinson suggested that the Wales international, 33, is closing in on a return to action.

"Kieffer's making really good progress and he's done some of the training with the boys [on Thursday] and he's in [on Friday] for a further assessment," said the Wrexham boss.

The Red Dragons face Premier League opposition for the first time during Parkinson's reign as they host Nottingham Forest at the Stok Cae Ras on Friday (19:30 GMT).

And Parkinson believes freshness will be key for his side as he ponders what changes to make following last Sunday's 2-0 win at Derby.

"In a cup game or league game, [it will be] in similar vein to what we've been doing over Christmas in terms of looking at a bit of freshness in the team. I think that will be important," he explained.

"We've trained the last couple of days, the lads have trained well and we've just got to make the call right on the team to get the balance of the team right and the continuity but also a bit of freshness in there as well."

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Having spent around £30m last summer following their promotion to the Championship, BBC Sport asked Wrexham fans if the club should spend again in January?

And in what positions?

Here are some of the responses:

Tom - I can understand the temptation, this is our only chance to extend our historic run to incredible heights never seen before. That aside, also, will we get a better chance to go up given how open the race is - while ignoring Coventry at the top! I'd love them to go for it, but keep an eye on next season if we fail.

David - I'd break the bank to get Harry Wilson and a centre back

Peter - There is absolutely no need to acquire any new players. This is a very strong squad with sufficient strength in depth.

Marty - Definitely another striker - one of Wrexham's worst signings has got to be Jay Rodriguez.

Alex - I'd like to see some pace added to our midfield but otherwise I'd stick with the squad that's seems to be gelling so well.

Michael - Another player or two with quality would give us a great chance to do something special this season.

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Issa Kabore made his long-awaited return to action for Burkina Faso in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) this week.

The right wing-back has missed Wrexham's past 11 Championship matches having been sidelined as a result of a hamstring problem he sustained while on international duty in November.

Despite the injury, the 24-year-old linked up with Burkina Faso for Afcon, and came off the bench in the 71st minute of their 3-0 loss to Ivory Coast in the last 16 of the competition on Tuesday.

With the Stallions now out of the competition, Kabore - who has made 11 appearances across all competitions since joining Wrexham on a season-long loan from Manchester City on transfer deadline day - is poised to return to north Wales.

Image source, BBC Sport

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With the January transfer window open, Wrexham have the chance to spend again on their squad.

The north Wales side - owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac - spent around £30m last summer following their promotion to the Championship.

Wrexham are just one point outside the play-off positions with 20 league games remaining.

Will they splash the cash once more in the hope of pushing for a fourth straight promotion?

We want to know which positions you think need strengthening - and what players should come in. And should Wrexham offload players this month, too?

Let us know what you think by clicking here.

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Sam Vokes believes Wrexham are firmly in the mix to clinch promotion this season.

And the pundit's fellow former Wales striker Iwan Roberts says he can not rule out the possibility of the club finishing in the Championship's top two.

It comes after Phil Parkinson's men beat Sheffield United, Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers and Derby County after Christmas to move to within a point of the second tier's top six spots.

"Of course they are [in contention], one point out of it at this stage of the season, they have momentum," Vokes told the Feast of Football podcast.

"I think it's so important, that atmosphere they have at home. If they can win their next two [against Norwich City and Leicester City], suddenly they're right in the mix."

He added: "The feeling around the place must be brilliant. They're a point off the play-offs.

"People were questioning if have they got it in them to have another promotion. They've set themselves up in 2026 to have a right push."

Only Coventry City and Ipswich Town have gained more points than Wrexham's tally of 36 from their past 21 league games since the Red Dragons were beaten 3-1 at home by Queens Park Rangers on 13 September.

And given the recent struggles of some of the sides currently in the top six, former Wales frontman Roberts said he could not dismiss the possibility that Wrexham end the 2025-26 campaign in the top two.

"I'm not ruling it out," Roberts said on the prospect of Wrexham earning automatic promotion.

"In the last five games in the Championship, only Watford have won more points than Wrexham. Coventry, they've only won once in five and that was against Swansea.

"Middlesbrough, they've been hit and miss lately. I fancy Ipswich, they still look strong. I still think they'll be in the top two."

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Iwan Roberts does not think Wrexham need to make any signings during the January transfer window as they already have "one of the strongest squads in the Championship".

The Red Dragons were always unlikely to be heavily active during the winter market having added 13 players to their ranks in the summer.

And former Wales international Roberts believes the strength-in-depth that Phil Parkinson currently has at his disposal will only continue to improve as players return from injury.

"The question was put to Phil Parkinson a few weeks ago if new players would come in when the window opened in January," Roberts told BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast.

"If a player comes up who would improve the team and the squad, maybe he'd bring one or two in.

"But at the moment, he's more than content with the players that he's got.

"He has good options in every position, and there are players who have been out through injury who will be coming back fairly soon.

"I think he's got one of the strongest squads in the Championship so I don't think they need to bring anyone in."

Wrexham have won four consecutive league games since Christmas to rise to ninth in the Championship table, just one point adrift of the play-off places.

They have also seen players including Liberato Cacace and Jay Rodriguez return from injury of late, with boss Parkinson stating he does not want to disrupt the harmony he has in his squad by making needless additions this month.

Speaking after his side's 2-1 win at Derby County, Parkinson said: "Of course, in any club in January, there's always some activity.

"But like I keep saying, we've got players like Libby (Cacace) today back on the pitch, we've got Rodriguez back, we've got a lot of players coming back as well.

"So we just want to make sure that we're not adding players for the sake of it, because one of our strengths is our spirit."

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Phil Parkinson lauded goal scorers Sam Smith and Matty James after the pair continued their impressive recent form in Wrexham's 2-1 win at Derby County.

Smith put the Red Dragons ahead at Pride Park, although striker Ben Brereton Diaz levelled for the Rams.

But midfielder James netted his first goal of the season in sublime fashion just after half time as Parkinson's men clinched a fourth successive Championship win.

Discussing the performance of James - who is the only Wrexham player to feature in every league match this season - Parkinson said: "His performance was brilliant.

"You look at Matty, he's played every game over this Christmas period and he was so good today, so good.

"I'm very pleased for him to get that goal. It was a brilliant finish."

On Smith, Parkinson said: "I thought at Blackburn he was really good. He did everything you'd want from a striker. He ran in behind, he held it up and he got his goal.

"Today, again, against good players, you're up against three really good Championship defenders, he's had a brilliant chance earlier, but then he got his goal.

"It's just his all-round play and the way he fought for the team was just brilliant."

Victory against John Eustace's side lifted Wrexham to within a point of the Championship's play-off places.

And while eager not to get carried away with his side's recent run, Parkinson says Wrexham are undoubtedly better placed to finish in the top six this season as a result of their current winning streak.

"We've certainly put ourselves in a stronger position after the Christmas period," he said.

"It's four out of four over Christmas and I'm so pleased for our supporters because that support we had today was amazing.

"When you look at the costs over the Christmas period, for the supporters to come out in their numbers today was brilliant and I'm so pleased we sent them back happy."

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Josh Windass will be assessed before Wrexham's Championship contest with Derby County on Sunday (15:00 GMT) but Kieffer Moore is expected to miss out.

Windass sustained a calf problem during the Red Dragons' 2-1 win over Preston North End on 29 December while Moore was withdrawn during the same fixture with a hamstring injury.

The duo - the club's two top scorers this season - were both absent as Wrexham won 2-0 at Blackburn Rovers on 1 January.

"I think Josh will be assessed over the next couple of days. Kieffer, it's probably a bit too soon for him. We'll see," assistant boss Steve Parkin told BBC Sport Wales.

"I think the key thing is that we get the lads rested up, get them home and they'll have a breather tomorrow (Friday)."

Derby ended a three-match winless streak with a 1-0 home win over promotion candidates Middlesbrough on New Year's Day and Parkin is excited for the visit to Pride Park.

"What a game to go to. I know it's a very passionate football club, they'll have a massive crowd.

"I'm sure we'll have a big following because we've not been there for a long time and it's one to really look forward to."

The reverse fixture in north Wales in September ended level as Ben Brereton Díaz cancelled out Lewis O'Brien's opener.

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Steve Parkin lauded the impact of goal scorers Sam Smith and Ollie Rathbone after the pair starred during Wrexham's 2-0 Championship win at Blackburn Rovers.

Striker Smith was handed just his second league start of the campaign while Rathbone was playing from the outset in the Championship for the first time in 2025-26 following a lengthy lay-off with an ankle injury.

And having made five changes from the side that started in the 2-1 victory over Preston North End three days earlier for the contest at Ewood Park, assistant boss Parkin stated that freshness was key to the Red Dragons' triumph in Lancashire.

"We're well aware that we've got a good squad and we're well aware that we're getting people back to full fitness," Parkin told BBC Sport Wales.

"We're also aware, we check the numbers, and we've seen how far they've run in the last two games. We thought that freshness would be key in this game.

"It just shows that the gaffer is not frightened to put players in the team who have been on the bench.

"I'm delighted for them because Ollie Rathbone, Smudger (Smith), they've been a big part of what we are this season without probably getting the game time that they would like or maybe deserve at times.

"But they've never put their heads down, they're good citizens, they train properly, they've never been any trouble in the group and I'm delighted for both of them."

Rathbone's sublime strike was his third goal in just five league appearances this season.

It means the midfielder now boasts an impressive strike rate of a goal every 42.7 minutes this season in the league, and Parkin likened the 29-year-old's technique for his strike against Rovers to that of Dutch legend Marco van Basten.

"The goal we scored, he (Rathbone) had a hand in all three bits," Parkin said of his side's second goal.

"He got the foul, then he gets a nick on the ball when it comes in and then follows it round from Scarry's (Dan Scarr) little set to keep in the box. It's a van Basten finish."

On Rathbone, Parkin added: "He's great around the place. He's as mad as a box of frogs.

"It's just another high quality addition to the attacking part of the team where we've already got really good players.

"It's great to be able to call upon somebody of Ollie's quality."