How Wrexham's new-look team could line up for League One opener as big names dropped

Wrexham's starting XI could look very different this season with several big names dropped.

Following historic back-to-back promotions, this season Wrexham will play in League One for the first time in 20 years.

The Welsh club have enjoyed a meteoric rise since Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney completed their takeover in 2020, rising from the National League to the third tier.

Some of the players who started that journey are still at Wrexham, but it's only natural that new and better talents are needed to keep the team competitive as they climb up the divisions.

A number of club legends have left the SToK Racecourse, including Ben Tozer, Luke Young and Callum McFadzean.

Meanwhile, several new faces have been added to Phil Parkinson's squad for the 2024-25 campaign.

Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has signed a permanent deal after spending last season on loan from Arsenal, while young defenders Lewis Brunt (23) and Sebastian Revan (21) have joined from Leicester City and Aston Villa respectively.

Midfielder George Dobson arrived on a free transfer from Charlton Athletic, while goalkeeper Callum Burton joined from Plymouth Argyle.

The new arrivals are likely to push a few familiar faces out of the starting XI when Wrexham take on Wycombe on the first day of the season on August 10.

If Wrexham's 4-1 friendly win against Hanley Town on Saturday was anything to go by, then Parkinson might be about to switch his back three system for a traditional back four.

Wrexham's line-up could look like this. [Buildlineup.com]

The lack of fit centre-backs at his disposal could explain Parkinson's decision for that game, but the fact that Wrexham have not recruited any wing-backs this summer suggests a permanent system change.

With that in mind, Luke Bolton could nail down the starting right-back spot, with George Evans and new signing Brunt at centre-back and youngster Revan at left-back.

In the first half of the Hanley game Parkinson deployed a midfield diamond, with Dobson at the base and Elliott Lee on the left.

They could be joined by Andy Cannon on the right of the diamond and Ryan Barnett at the tip.

Jack Marriott could partner Paul Mullin in attack, once the latter has recovered from his back issue.

That line-up would see stars including James McClean, Ollie Palmer and Steven Fletcher drop to the bench.

Wrexham's potential new line-up: Okonkwo; Bolton, Evans, Brunt, Revan; Cannon, Dobson, Lee, Barnett; Marriott, Mullin.