The Red Dragons are winning League Two, but when the transfer window reopens, a few players may be headed for release.
In their first three months back in the EFL, the Red Dragons have been entertaining as they have scored a lot of goals and surrendered a lot as well. There has also been no shortage of stoppage time drama that would look great in a documentary.
Though he thought he already had a very strong squad, manager Phil Parkinson wasn’t extremely busy in the summer transfer window. However, with players like James McClean and Steven Fletcher joining the Racecourse Ground, a few drops of experience and quality were added.
Players will be let go as Wrexham looks to move up the divisions, and with an oversized roster, there may be a clearout in January. Here are FIVE players who will need to show their value in the upcoming month in order to remain on the team.
Callum McFadzean
McFadzean joined Wrexham in January 2022 to support their National League promotion campaign, bringing a wealth of EFL experience to the team.
He swiftly settled into Parkinson’s starting lineup as a left wing-back, and he continued to be the first choice even after Jacob Mendy was signed last summer. However, by the second half of the season, the latter had established himself.
McFadzean is currently the third-choice left wing-back on the team due to increased competition from James McClean this season. His contract with the team expires in the summer, therefore he will need to perform very well to stay with the team.
Bryce Hosannah
Similar to McFadzean, former Leeds right-back Hosannah is also unfancied despite having made one brief appearance in League Two.
Hosannah made his North Wales debut in 2021–2022 and filled both wing-back positions, but Anthony Forde’s arrival in 2022 knocked him down the ladder.
Hosannah was further forced to the sidelines by the signing of Ryan Barnett from Solihull Moors. It would take some luck for him to return and land a new contract, which seems improbable given that he can’t play in the league until January.
Liam McAlinden
McAlinden did make the cut, unlike McFadzean and Hosannah, probably because of his versatility, but it also seems that his three years with the team are drawing to an end.
The 30-year-old is a natural striker who has experience playing in a variety of positions around the field, but when he has appeared in games during the previous campaign, he has typically been a wing-back.
Although McAlinden has made five appearances for Wrexham this season, he is unlikely to see any playing time absent an abundance of injuries. For now, he must continue to work hard in training and wait to see what happens.
Billy Waters
Waters, who was brought in from Barrow in March to simply bring a little bit more quality in the last third for the conclusion of the promotion push, was another player who did not make the 22-man roster.
Despite having made three appearances in League Two in August, Waters only played once, and that was when promotion was already assured, thus Parkinson chose to leave the 29-year-old off the roster.
When Fletcher eventually showed up, it became clear why a squad spot was left unfilled; but, if Waters wishes to stick around, he will need to perform well in training as he is bound to the team through 2025 and cannot leave for free in the summer.
Jake Bickerstaff
Bickerstaff, a Liverpool teenager who joined six years ago, was selected for the squad before Waters.
Bickerstaff has benefited from managers’ ability to name seven substitutes, even though he did not participate in a single National League game last season. In five League Two appearances, he has scored twice.
