Phil Parkinson buoyed as four Wrexham players near returns, including ‘off the scale’ star | OneFootball

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has been lifted by the prospect of four players returning from injury as the Championship play-off race gathers pace.

Issa Kabore, Kieffer Moore, Matty James and Max Cleworth are edging back, with Kabore training again after Africa Cup of Nations minutes for Burkina Faso. According to Wales Online, all four are close to returning.

Kabore, on loan from Manchester City, has been sidelined since November with a hamstring issue and was a standout earlier in the season, his displays labelled by Parkinson as "off the scale".

Wales international Moore, Wrexham’s top scorer with 12 goals in 25 appearances since arriving from Sheffield United in the summer, has missed the last three with a hamstring issue. Parkinson said a couple more days before Nottingham Forest might have put him close to the bench, and this week has given staff extra time with him.

James and Cleworth missed the FA Cup third round win over Nottingham Forest due to back and tendon issues. Parkinson dismissed speculation linking academy graduate Cleworth with Aston Villa, and said James had a back injection while Cleworth, who has been managing a tendon problem, trained today and looked good.

Parkinson said Kabore needs this week to gauge his readiness, though the defender is keen to return. Wrexham are ninth, one point off the play-offs after four straight league wins, and host Norwich City at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday.

Source: Wales Online