--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-10-08T16:28:59.318Z last_updated: 2026-10-08T04:15:00+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/wrexham/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGVhZGVybGl2ZS5jby51ay9zcG9ydC8yNjYxNDgwNy53cmV4aGFtLXB1dC1wYWNlcy1mb3VyLXBhcnQtd2lnYW4tcHJhY3RpY2UtbWF0Y2gvP3JlZj1yc3M --- # Wrexham fine-tune for Derby clash with practice match against Wigan - **Source:** - **Published:** 8 Oct - **Club:** Wrexham - **Original URL:** https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/sport/26614807.wrexham-put-paces-four-part-wigan-practice-match/?ref=rss It's been an extended first break of the season, lasting three weeks, and five players - Danny Ward, Kieffer Moore (both Wales), Issa Kaboré (Burkina Faso), Jacques Ekomié (Gabon) and Bailey Cadamarteri - have been away with their respective countries. But Phil Parkinson was keen to give his other players some much needed game-time ahead of Saturday's Championship clash against Derby County at Pride Park. Although some members of the squad who have been regulars since the start of the campaign have had a chance to recharge the batteries since the last match, a 2-1 win at home to Southampton on September 19, and others have been recovering from knocks, it was all systems go for his fit players when Wrexham faced the Latics in a friendly. "We played four 30-minute games against Wigan on Friday," revealed Parkinson, who says Danny Imray and Ollie Rathbone will be fit for the weekend clash. "We wanted some lads to play 60 minutes, some wanted to stretch to 90 minutes and then we got some of the youngsters involved. "All in all, it was a good workout for us. "It is trying to get the balance right between the lads having enough 11 v 11, kind of bigger pitch football during the break because we have got to make sure that the physical data correlates with what we want to put into practice on Saturday at Derby. "But I feel the lads, with where we are now, have hit the mark with where we want to get to and we have got a couple more days training before we start another great run of games." The international break came after only eight league games since the season kicked-off, with Wrexham picking up 10 points to sit 14th in the table. Parkinson admits it has been strange having an extended break so early in the campaign but says the players and staff have made the most of their time. "When the end of season comes around, you are kind of ready for a break," he said. "But with it being so early in the season, everybody's getting into the swing of it. "But everyone is in the same situation and I feel we have utilised it. Wrexham handed injury boost as Imray and Rathbone return to training How Wrexham's loanees are faring this season Why Wrexham pair Doyle and Patterson needed the international break most "We have planned it out as well as we feel we can and we go into the weekend in good shape." Wrexham have seven league games before the next international break in mid-November, which lasts a fortnight. Parkinson is looking to build on the win over Southampton when the Reds begin the run of matches at Derby. "We talked about the Southampton game and what we feel we got back in place after the West Ham defeat, and how we can build on that," he added. "It is another block of games and it is just keep improving as a team. "You can sense that the lads are itching to get back going again."