PHIL PARKINSON hopes to close in on more new signings but the Wrexham boss is also giving Dawid Szczepaniak and Keanu Marsh-Brown the chance to prove themselves.

Parkinson has bolstered his squad with the addition of experienced centre-back Shaun Brisley and striker Liam McAlinden, with the duo putting pen to paper on two-year contracts.

Talks are on-going with transfer targets but Szczepaniak, third choice goalkeeper since his arrival at The Racecourse in the summer of 2019, and former Forest Green and Barnet winger Marsh-Brown, brought in on non-contract terms in April, have been invited to return for pre-season training.

Both players have taken up the offer and Parkinson will continue to run the rule over the pair.

"They were given the chance to come back in which I have respected," said Parkinson.

"They are back in with us and both training well at the moment.

"It is the early weeks of pre-season so it is a lot of small, kind of keep ball sessions, and running.

"You are not going to see players on the bigger picture until the weekend so we will get a clearer view of those lads that have come back in as we go along."

Parkinson, who inherited a 16-man squad when he was appointed manager on a 12-month rolling contract, is delighted with the addition of Brisley, a defender who has previously spent the rest of his career playing in the Football League, and frontman McAlinden, who helped Morecambe clinch promotion to League One last season.

"Centre-half is a position where we are particularly short in the squad," said Parkinson.

"Shaun has got a lot of experience in the league and I am pleased to get him on board.

"Liam is something different to what we have got.

"He can play in wide areas and he can play off a striker in the number 10 role.

"He has got good ability, and experience at this level and above."

Parkinson admits there is still a lot of work to be done before his squad is the finished article, with Wrexham kicking off a 14th season in non-league with a home match against Yeovil on Saturday August 21.

"The squad is a long way off where we want it to be," said Parkinson.

"We are working on several areas at the moment and hopefully we can continue to improve the squad."

Parkinson, who has seen the friendly against Philadelphia Union in America cancelled "due to the increased risk and continued uncertainty created by COVID-19", will see Wrexham come up against Sheffield Wednesday at Middlewood Road - the Owls’ training facility - in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday July 24, with more games set to be announced.

"It was disappointing having to cancel the friendly in America," said Parkinson.

"Getting the games has not been easy but we are gradually getting there with that.

"I want to do an in-house game firstly; that gives us a chance to look at everybody, and a few of the better young players will be included in that."