Phil Parkinson: Wrexham need ‘A-game’ for ‘mouth-watering’ week

Victory against Oxford lifted Wrexham up to 15th in the Championship table, above Welsh rivals Swansea City on goals scored.

It means Wrexham are now the highest ranked Welsh side in the English Football League, something Parkinson believes serves as another marker of the club’s progress.

“It doesn’t mean a great deal at this stage, but little markers like that along the way are important for Wrexham Football Club. We know that and our aim is to maintain that,” he said.

Wrexham will be without midfielder Elliot Lee for the contest against Boro due to a knee problem.

Lee’s midfield team-mates Ollie Rathbone and Ben Sheaf will be assessed after picking up thigh and groin issues respectively.

Long-term absentees Jay Rodriguez, Danny Ward, Andy Cannon, Harry Ashfield and Aaron James all remain sidelined.

On the meeting with Middlesbrough, Parkinson added: “Obviously a good manager, Rob [Edwards], and a great assistant in Adi Viveash, someone I used to play with. They’re really good football people.

“They’ve had a good start. We respect that, it’s a good club, a team that’s been up in the Premier League before and as always there’s expectations on them.”