# Wrexham Receives Boost as Former England Striker Jay Rodriguez Approaches Comeback
A significant boost for Wrexham is on the horizon as they prepare for the return of former England international Jay Rodriguez, who has been absent from league play since April.
Rodriguez, now 36 years old, signed with Wrexham from Burnley on an 18-month contract in January. During his time with the club, he managed to score twice in 17 appearances, contributing to the team’s promotion from League One under manager Phil Parkinson.
Unfortunately, Rodriguez’s season was cut short due to a stress fracture in his ankle that he sustained during pre-season. As a result, he was left out of Wrexham’s 24-man Championship squad when it was announced in September. However, Parkinson recently provided an optimistic update, revealing that Rodriguez, along with midfielder Andy Cannon—who previously suffered a ruptured ACL in February—has returned to training.
While this news brightens the team’s outlook, there is also concern regarding last season’s player of the year, Ollie Rathbone, who has faced yet another setback after injuring his ankle during pre-season. Parkinson commented on the situation, stating, “Andy Cannon is back training, and Rodriguez is out on the training pitch. We haven’t seen Rathbone yet; he had a minor issue ahead of the reserve game last Tuesday.”
Parkinson explained that while Rathbone’s injury isn’t considered significant, there’s a need to ensure he doesn’t overexert himself as he works towards returning to the squad. “He’s determined to get back involved with the group, but we want to avoid any further niggles,” he added, assuring fans of Rathbone’s eventual return.
The Wrexham manager also hinted at the potential impact of player returns on the future matches, suggesting that these players could feel like new signings for the team. Rodriguez currently ranks as Wrexham’s third-highest earner, earning £25,000 per week, and he has one England cap, granted during a match against Chile in November 2013.
Despite playing limited league minutes this year, Rodriguez participated in a pre-season friendly against Sydney FC. His last competitive match for Wrexham was a 2-1 victory over Blackpool on April 21. The earliest he could rejoin the first team is in January, coinciding with the next opportunity for clubs to modify their squad registrations.
Presently, Wrexham occupies the 14th position in the Championship table and will face Bristol City at home in their upcoming match on Wednesday. The Red Dragons are on a six-match unbeaten streak in the league and are only three points away from reaching the playoff spots.
Ahead of the fixture, Parkinson also addressed the fitness status of wing-back Liberato Cacace and leading scorer Kieffer Moore, who were not part of the squad during the previous match against Ipswich Town. He remarked, “We left them at home for recovery work with the physiotherapists. Kieffer can take this slight injury as a positive, allowing him to rest. He has been playing nearly every minute, including international duty with Wales, so he should return refreshed and ready to continue his impressive start to the season.”
Stay tuned for more updates on Wrexham as they continue their Championship campaign and work to regain their key players.
