Wrexham

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Davis Keillor-Dunn says he has spoken with manager Phil Parkinson about the fierce competition for places in Wrexham's forward line.

Keillor-Dunn returned to the Red Dragons on transfer deadline day - after a brief stint in north Wales six years ago - signing a deal through to the end of the 2028-29 season.

He will now compete with the likes of Kieffer Moore, Sam Smith, Jay Rodriguez and fellow new arrival Bailey Cadamarteri for a spot in Parkinson's line-up.

"[Competition] is something the manager spoke to me about before I came in," the striker told BBC Sport Wales following his move from Barnsley.

"He said 'you're going to love playing with these guys, you're going to love the competition and you'll play with some quality players'.

"The squad morale is so good. I've been in the changing room today and I've already seen that.

"I can't wait to get that first Championship game under my belt and see the Racecourse booming on Saturday."

Keillor-Dunn made just six appearances in his first spell at the club in the second half of the curtailed 2019-20 season.

"I felt like there was something that was always going to bring me back," said the 28-year-old.

"My previous time here was a short stint, but I'm here for a bit longer now to make more memories. I can't wait to get going."

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Zak Vyner says he will lean on the support of former team-mate Matty James after reuniting with the midfielder at Wrexham.

Vyner joined the Red Dragons on the penultimate day of the winter transfer window - following in the footsteps of James who joined Wrexham after leaving Bristol City in 2024.

Vyner (pictured above right) and James (above left) spent three years together at Ashton Gate.

"He's a great help for me because he's such a big part of this team and a senior player," Vyner told BBC Sport Wales.

"When you go into anywhere new, it doesn't matter how old you are, the first day anywhere is always nerve-wracking.

"To see a familiar face on the first day is a real big help for me. He'll help me settle in, find a place to live, all of that stuff - the little things away from the pitch as well, that are so big. To have someone to text and pick up the phone to is massive."

Manager Phil Parkinson was quick to highlight the versatility of Vyner after making the 28-year-old his first signing of the mid-season window.

And given Wrexham's impressive season in the Championship so far, the defender says he is only too aware that he faces a difficult task when it comes to dislodging those currently starting regularly at Stok Cae Ras.

"I've never moved in January, but when players have come to where I've been in January, it's always been an interesting one because normally the team can be settled," added Vyner.

"If you go into a team that's doing well, like I have now, the team is going to be settled and going well so it's always an interesting one to see where you fit in.

"For me, my natural position is centre-half. I can play all three of them and I have done this season.

"The versatility I've got, to step in if needed into centre-midfield, and I've played right wing-back this season as well.

"I just want to do what I can to make the team better, I hope [my versatility] is going to be a strong bonus for the lads and for the gaffer to use."

Find more Wrexham content from BBC Sounds at the bottom of this page or on our dedicated club page.

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Today is the final chance of the season for your Championship team to do transfer business.

The window closes at 19:00 GMT, meaning teams - and fans - can avoid the usual late-night transfer scramble.

It has already been a busy window - for some teams anyway - but whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our live text coverage throughout the day here

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Phil Parkinson could not hide his delight with Sam Smith after the striker continued his impressive goal scoring run at Sheffield Wednesday.

The forward netted the only goal of the contest - his fourth is as many league starts - on 58 minutes at Hillsborough as the Red Dragons claimed a fourth successive away league victory.

"I'm so pleased for Sam. He had a disrupted pre-season and it took a while to get his opportunity," said Parkinson.

"Over that Christmas period, he was brilliant for us, at Blackburn and Derby in particular.

"He does what he does, which is he gets in the six-yard box like he did today and that's a goal which is typical of him really.

"It's a great move down the right side, a brilliant pass from Max [Cleworth] and a great cross. Josh [Windass] has made that near post run which is so important and Sam's there to tap it in."

The win over the Owls moved Wrexham back into the Championship's play-off places.

Following successive away league games, Parkinson's side play four of their next five matches across all competitions at Stok Cae Ras, and the experienced manager heaped praise on his players following their latest triumph on the road.

"When you kick off early, it's a good chance to get the three points and enjoy watching the other results come in," added Parkinson.

"It's good to be up there, four away wins on the bounce, I think that's a terrific effort from the lads.

"All of those wins have had different qualities required and we're pleased. We're definitely not getting carried away at all and we'll move on to next week."

Image source, Reuters

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).