Ben Sheaf: Midfielder’s emotional Wrexham return after lengthy absence

Keven Schlotterbeck’s 89th-minute own goal added to Kieffer Moore’s header in the first-half as Wrexham delivered the perfect response to their 6-0 loss at West Ham United eight days earlier.

Tonda Eckert’s side spurned numerous opportunities to win the game having equalised through James Ward-Prowse’s strike shortly after half-time at the Racecourse Ground.

And while Wrexham rode their luck at times, Sheaf felt the character his team-mates showed to clinch all three points was pivotal on the back of their hefty defeat by the Hammers earlier in September.

“We’ve been under some pressure since that West Ham game,” he explained after the Southampton victory.

“We’ve probably not picked up as many points as we’d have liked as a group, but I think we just showed real good character today.

“We weren’t at our absolute best going forward but I think we did the basics well, showed good character and I’m really pleased with the result and how we handled the game.”

The extended international break will provide Sheaf with additional time to work his way back to full match fitness.

Despite his encouraging return to action, the former Coventry City player feels he is still some way off his peak levels.

“I’ll almost treat it like a mini pre-season,” Sheaf said of the three-week international window.

“It’ll look a bit different to what the other lads will do because they’ve had proper match minutes.

“I still think I’ve definitely got a bit to go. I’m sure it’ll be a good few more games until I’m really firing and feeling fit.

“But I felt like I did OK today [against Southampton]. There’s still lots for me to get better at, but I’ve got to take the positives because, like I say, it’s been a while.”