MARK HOWARD is handed the gloves tomorrow as Wrexham head to Barrow looking for their first League Two clean sheet of the season.

With former England international Ben Foster leaving the Reds this week after announcing his retirement, the man whose place he took in the side gets the nod for the trip to Holker Street.

“Mark’s had a good pre-season and he played really well in the cup game against Wigan,” said Reds boss Phil Parkinson, who can tick off another ground on his list tomorrow having never visited Barrow before.

Howard kept a clean sheet as Wrexham held League One side Wigan to a goal-less draw before beating them on penalties in the League Cup first round.

The experienced keeper is heading to familiar territory having played for Barrow’s Cumbrian rivals, Carlisle, before joining Wrexham.

With Rob Lainton still nursing a knee injury, Parkinson has also brought in young keepers, Luke McNicholas and Liam Hall, this month to bolster the goalkeeping ranks.

Parkinson may make changes in the outfield positions too as he aims to put a stop to Wrexham’s awful defensive record of conceding 13 goals in four games.

But Wrexham have also scored 13 goals making them the most entertaining team to watch in the entire Football League.

“It’s been a hectic start to the season and I said that in the first few weeks we would have to utilise the squad,” added Parkinson, who has so far used 22 players.

Having no midweek game has been a help to Parkinson and he’s been pleased to have a full week on the training ground with his players.

“It’s been good this week,” said Parkinson. “Yes, we’re disappointed about the goals we’re conceding but there are lots of very good elements of our play that have pleased me.”