PHIL PARKINSON will ring the changes for Saturday’s FA Trophy tie against Scunthorpe United at The Racecourse.

Promotion is the priority for Wrexham but the title challenge is put on hold this weekend when the Reds host The Iron in the third round of non-league’s premier cup competition.

Wrexham reached the final last season, going down 1-0 to Bromley at Wembley Stadium, with Parkinson selecting strong sides on the run to the showpiece which included wins against fellow National League outfits Boreham Wood, Notts County and Stockport County.

But the emphasis for the clash with Scunthorpe, who are languishing at the bottom of the fifth tier, is giving players who need minutes a much-needed run-out.

Players such as Liam McAlinden and Sam Dalby have made the majority of their appearances off the substitutes bench in 2022-23 while the likes of Rob Lainton, Harry Lennon, Reece Hall-Johnson and Jacob Mendy have recovered from injury in recent weeks but found opportunities limited.

With plenty of options in his first-team squad, Parkinson, who could also hand a debut to new signing Andy Cannon, is taking the opportunity to make changes and rest some of his regulars.

Four players - Mark Howard, Ben Tozer, Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer - have started all 22 league fixtures this term, Aaron Hayden and Luke Young have only missed one match, and James Jones has featured in every game.

“There are players in the squad who need some game-time,” said Parkinson.

“We are going to take this opportunity to give some players that game-time because for various reasons, it gets those players ready for the second part of the season, and there are things we can look at in this fixture.

“There are a few that won’t be involved at all at the weekend.

“We will be making a lot of changes for this game.”

Parkinson, who saw last night’s clash with Chesterfield postponed because of a frozen pitch, is eager to give players a breather this weekend and a chance to recover from minor knocks before Wrexham continue the title challenge at home to Bromley next Wednesday.

The final game of the year is against Solihull Moors at The Racecourse on Boxing Day, with the Reds then heading to Damson Park for the reverse fixture on Monday January 2, 2023.

“We have got a few players who are scheduled to have injections and specialist appointments on Wednesday,” said Parkinson.

“We are using these few days to get a few people right who have been playing with problems.

“We want them right for the Bromley game and going into the Christmas period.

“There is nothing major but there’s just a couple of things which we had appointments booked for Wednesday to have treatment regardless of what happened with the Chesterfield game.”