PHIL PARKINSON wants to make a habit of arranging behind closed doors friendlies to give first team players much needed game-time and to help youngsters continue their development.

A Wrexham XI drew 2-2 with a Salford XI at Colliers Park on Tuesday afternoon with strikers Dior Angus and Jake Bickerstaff getting the Reds goals.

Centre-back Shaun Brisley, who sustained a knee injury in pre-season, continued his comeback and he was joined by the likes of Christian Dibble, Bryce Hosannah, Max Cleworth, Cameron Green, Dave Jones, Devonte Redmond and Dan Jarvis who have found opportunities limited this term.

Youth team players Oliver Hitchcox, Tom Jenkins, Kai Evans and Dan Jones were also involved, and Parkinson stressed the importance of giving them a chance to make the step up as well as give seniors a much needed run-out.

"We had a game against Salford for the lads who have not had many minutes and that is crucial, really important," said Parkinson.

"It was an excellent work-out and a good game for the lads out of the team so I was pleased with that.

"We are trying to have the games when we feel the lads out of the team need a game but equally, we want the better players in our youth set-up to play in those better standard games well.

"That is really important. A couple of weeks ago we played Manchester United and more of them got game-time there and that is what we want to try and do.

"The players in the youth set-up who we feel are ready, we want to kind of step them up as well so it a two-fold thing really and I think that is good."