Form
Wrexham won promotion to the Championship last season after finishing runners-up to Birmingham City in League One. This marked their third successive promotion in three seasons, having won the National League in 2023 and finishing runners-up in League Two in 2024.
They have had a mixed return to the second tier so far, sitting 15th in the league after two wins, one draw and three losses in their first six games. They come into this game off the back of an exciting away win at Norwich City, which they
won 2-3.
Their route to the third round of the cup has seen the Red Dragons beat Hull City on penalties and Preston North End 3-2 away from home.
The two sides shared the spoils last season, with Wrexham beating Reading 3-0 at home last August before the Royals claimed a 2-0 home win in March this year, after goals from Harvey Knibbs and Lewis Wing.
The boss
Phil Parkinson: Former Reading favourite Parkinson was appointed Wrexham manager in July 2021, taking over from Dean Keates.
Parky had an 18-year career as a player, starting as a trainee at Southampton before joining Bury, where he made his professional debut. He joined Reading in 1992 and went on to make 231 appearances for the Royals over the course of a decade, with many of those as captain.
He retired from playing in 2003 and walked straight into a managerial role at Colchester United, where he secured his first promotion as a manager in 2006.
A short spell at Hull City followed, before Parkinson went on to join Charlton Athletic as Alan Pardew’s assistant. He became Charlton manager in 2008 and spent two years in charge before his sacking in January 2011.
Parkinson had his longest reign at Bradford City, who he managed between 2011 and 2016. Parky guided Bradford to a League Cup final in 2013 and promotion to League One via the playoffs in 2013.
He went on to manage Bolton Wanderers, where he secured his third promotion as a manager, guiding the Trotters back to the Championship in 2017.
A short spell at Sunderland followed before he joined Wrexham in 2021, securing three more promotions, winning the National League in 2023 and finishing runners-up in League Two in 2024 and League One in 2025.
Having been a leader on the pitch during his playing career, Parky has taken these skills into his managerial career and is a highly regarded, successful manager in the Football League.
Squad
Wrexham signed 13 players upon their return to the Championship, spending a reported £30m.
Goalkeeper Danny Ward signed from Leicester City on a free, with five defenders also coming in the door at the Stok Cae Ras Stadium. Callum Doyle (Manchester City), Dominic Hyam (Blackburn Rovers), Liberato Cacace (FC Empoli) and Conor Coady (Leicester) all joined on permanent deals, while right-back Issa Kabore also signed on loan from Man City.
Midfield signings included the permanent captures of Ben Sheaf (Coventry City), Lewis O’Brien (Nottingham Forest), George Thomason (Bolton) and Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday). Three forwards also joined in the shape of Ryan Hardie (Plymouth Argyle), Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) and Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich Town).
Defender Aaron James and midfielder Harry Ashfield will both miss out on this Tuesday’s game with knee and ankle injuries.
Predicted lineup
Okonkwo, Brunt, Scarr, Doyle, Cacace, Kabore, Rathbone, Thomason, Lee, Smith, Hardie
Key player
38. Elliott Lee: Midfielder Lee joined Wrexham in July 2022 on a free transfer after his release from Luton Town.
He started his career at West Ham United and was a graduate from the Hammers’ academy. He made his professional debut in 2013 before embarking on a number of loan moves, playing for the likes of Colchester United, Luton Town and Blackpool.
Lee left West Ham in 2016, signing for Barnsley for an undisclosed fee. He joined Luton Town a year later where he stayed for five seasons, representing the Hatters 123 times, scoring 30 goals. He also had loan spells at Oxford United and Charlton before his release from Luton in 2022.
Lee has made 149 appearances for Wrexham, scoring 40 goals. He is yet to play a part in the league this season but has played in both of Wrexham’s cup games so far, picking up one goal and one assist.
The 30-year-old is the son of former Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee. He typically plays in the number 10 role and is a strong passer who is comfortable on the ball.
One to watch
47. Callum Doyle: Defender Doyle joined Wrexham this summer, signing from Man City on a four-year deal. He is a product of the City youth system but never made a first-team appearance for the Citizens, instead gaining experience across four different loan spells.
Doyle made his professional debut at the age of 17 while on loan with Sunderland in League One during the 2021/22 season. After winning promotion with the Black Cats, he spent the next season on loan at Coventry City, before two additional season-long loan deals at Leicester and Norwich.
Over the course of those four loan spells, Doyle notched up 156 first-team appearances, scoring two goals. The 21-year-old has also represented England at under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 level and has 26 Young Lions caps to his name.
Doyle is a centre-back by trade and is both versatile and creative.
