Wrexham’s second friendly of the summer ended in a 1-0 win over Manchester United, with Sam Smith scoring the only goal in the first half. It was another useful step in Phil Parkinson’s preseason work, with the squad split across two separate lineups and 22 players used as the manager continued to manage fitness levels.

The result followed last week’s goalless draw with Wisła Kraków and offered further evidence that Wrexham are already operating at a strong level before next week’s three-match U.S. tour. Parkinson has been open about using these games to build condition, but the performances have also underlined how competitive his side can be.

Against Manchester United’s senior players, Wrexham were the stronger team in the opening period. After the break, the emphasis shifted toward defensive structure as the opposition introduced a youthful side filled with academy players. That context matters, particularly with United playing their first preseason fixture and leaving out a number of World Cup stars.

Even so, Wrexham’s display was encouraging and reinforced the sense that Parkinson is content to wait on recruitment. The club may still want midfield additions, but Lewis O’Brien again looked like a player ready to make a major impact in the Championship.

Operating deeper alongside Matty James, O’Brien controlled the tempo in the first half and supplied the assist for Smith’s winner. He completed 75% of his passes in the attacking third and finished with 93% overall passing accuracy. He also won every tackle, claimed 60% of his duels, and added three recoveries and two clearances.

Smith was the stand-out from the academy-linked trio in Wrexham colours, with Ollie Rathbone and Matty James also involved. The striker’s movement and work rate unsettled Manchester United throughout the first half before he arrived unmarked at the back post to finish a move built down the left.

Wrexham remain the only Championship club yet to make a signing this summer, and Parkinson has made clear that any new arrival must represent a meaningful upgrade on the squad that finished seventh last season. Saturday’s game may have offered a few names worth considering, including Harry Amass, Toby Collyer and Shea Lacey. Amass, in particular, looks well suited to the wingback role currently viewed as the side’s biggest need.

Back-to-back clean sheets have also given Wrexham a solid base. Arthur Okonkwo’s penalty save against Wisła Kraków helped preserve the draw, while this was another disciplined team effort that kept Manchester United quiet.

Wrexham could look to the Premier League loan market this summer as part of a recruitment plan to improve their promotion prospects from the Championship. Club sources expect a more competitive division next season, and Phil Parkinson would only pursue loan signings that “add genuine quality to his first-team squad.”

Clubs must register a maximum senior squad of 25 players aged over 21, with eight homegrown players and two designated goalkeepers. Players under 21 do not need to be registered, but every loan signing must be registered regardless of age.

Awoniyi: The 28-year-old centre forward had a reduced role at Nottingham Forest, scoring four goals and one assist in 481 Premier League minutes last season, including a brace in the victory over Chelsea. He offers an efficient goals-per-minute record, but with one year left on his contract Forest may favour permanent offers.

Akpom: Now 30, Akpom joined Ipswich Town permanently last month but saw limited game time on loan from Ajax this season, scoring two goals in 31 appearances. With Ipswich promoted, significant Premier League opportunities appear unlikely and a Championship leading role could suit him.

Lacey: The 19-year-old made four first-team appearances for Manchester United across all competitions. He remains a raw talent who would seek regular minutes on loan and would likely compete with Josh Windass and Nathan Broadhead for attacking midfield positions.

Moore: Eighteen and the youngest player to appear for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, Moore gained experience on loan at Rangers. A natural left winger, he would provide attacking depth and impact from the bench.

Armstrong: The 19-year-old central midfielder impressed on loan at Preston North End before returning to Everton, where he made 13 Premier League appearances. There is known interest in Armstrong this summer and another loan is a logical option.

Konak: The 20-year-old defensive midfielder is highly regarded at Brentford, has 14 senior appearances including 10 in the Premier League, and represented Türkiye at U21 level. He stood out during 16 Championship appearances for Oxford United.

Amass: A promising 19-year-old wingback, Amass impressed on loan at Sheffield Wednesday before Manchester United redirected his loan to Norwich City. He made one appearance for the Canaries before injury curtailed his season. He won Manchester United’s Young Player of the Year award in 2024–25 and has seven senior appearances for the club.

McFarlane: A 19-year-old product of New York City FC and one of the youngest MLS signees, McFarlane has been involved with England U19 and is highly regarded at Manchester City, though he lacks senior experience in English football.

Valdimarsson: The 24-year-old Iceland international has 12 senior appearances for Brentford, including three in the Premier League. He was named in the matchday squad for every senior Brentford fixture last season but sits behind Caoimhín Kelleher in the pecking order.

Vítek: A young goalkeeper who impressed on loan with Bristol City in the Championship, Vítek earned praise for his shot-stopping and is considered to have a very bright future.

Hull City secured promotion to the Premier League with a 1–0 victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final, Oli McBurnie’s stoppage-time winner providing a decisive end to a highly divisive post-season.

The route to Wembley was overshadowed by an espionage row. Southampton analyst intern William Salt was found filming Middlesbrough’s training from behind a pine tree and was detained by indignant Boro staff. Southampton revealed this was not the first instance of spying sanctioned by manager Tonda Eckert. Saints had prevailed across the two legs of the play-off semifinal against Middlesbrough, only for an unprecedented English Football League ruling to expel Southampton from the final and reinstate Boro.

“We can say everything is unfair in this last two weeks,” Hull manager Sergej Jakirović sighed on the eve of the final.

The final itself was a tight, attritional contest. Only one Championship play-off final in the past decade has been decided by more than a single goal, Brentford’s 2–0 win over Swansea City in 2021, which was aided by Jay Fulton’s red card in the 65th minute. Middlesbrough supporters had gathered in Trafalgar Square the day before, but the match struggled for fluency. The first shot on target did not arrive until the 61st minute and stifling heat contributed to a subdued tempo.

When the breakthrough came it arrived in dramatic fashion. In the 95th minute McBurnie reacted quickest to a poor save from Solomon Brynn, gobbling up the rebound from a cross to find the goal that would send Hull back to the top flight for the first time since 2017. The late strike closed a tumultuous play-off campaign and spared Hull any need for legal action.

After 10 months, 370 Championship matches and 1,021 goals, attention now turns to the Premier League. The final table remains undecided, with Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United the last two sides still fighting to secure top-flight survival with 90 minutes of the season remaining.