Wrexham injury boost and question mark for Blackburn Rovers

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson. <i>(Image: PA)</i>
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson. (Image: PA)
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Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson will keep Blackburn Rovers guessing after a tactical tweak to their formation last weekend.

The Welsh side switched from their regular 3-4-3 to 3-5-2, incorporating Kieffer Moore and Sam Smith in a front two. The latter scored at Ewood Park in January.

As Wrexham have evolved, they have preferred two number 10s with an array of options to choose from.

Parkinson was coy on whether he would persist with that against Rovers on revert to type.

"When we went 3-5-2, one of the reasons we played that system initially is because we felt Paul Mullin needed a partner up there," he said.

"We went through the divisions with that and adapted last year with the 3-4-3 and the two 10s.

"With Nathan Broadhead, Josh Windass, Ollie Rathbone and Lewis O'Brien, we feel we have got those players who can all play in that system and equally, we have got a lot of players who can play as a single 10 behind the striker, so we have got options.

"It is good to have flexibility in the squad to change it, and it was important that we impacted in the final third more than we had done in the last home game (a 2-1 defeat to West Brom last Tuesday).

"Whatever way we set-up at the weekend, we are looking to be impactful because we are at our best when we are on the front foot and make the opposition defend.

"We will look at the performance and analyse what we did well, look at Blackburn and pick the team and the shape to go into this game.

"If we have to adapt again, we will."

Wrexham could have influential midfielder Ben Sheaf available for the trip to Ewood Park.

Signed from Coventry City for £6.5m last summer, the midfielder returned to training on Thursday after missing the last three matches.

Max Cleworth, Nathan Broadhead, Josh Windass, Libby Cacace and Seb Revan remain on the sidelines whilst Matty James is available but a persistent back issue is being monitored.

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