PHIL PARKINSON says Max Cleworth has shown he is at home in League One and believes the centre-back is capable of playing at a higher level.

The 22-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at The Racecourse, is playing in the third tier for the first time in his career but has picked up where he left off after winning the 2023-24 Young Player of the Season award for a second time when he helped Wrexham secure a second promotion in a row.

In the starting XI for the opening four games, Cleworth scored his second goal of the season in Saturday's 2-0 win at Peterborough United which continued Wrexham's unbeaten start.

Parkinson has no doubt how talented Cleworth is and as well as keeping the opposition at bay - the Reds kept a third clean sheet in a row at London Road - he is delighted the defender is doing the job at the other end of the pitch.

After going so long without a league goal, he has now found the back of the net three times in the last nine games and the Reds' boss rates Cleworth highly.

"I'm obviously pleased with Max," said Parkinson. 

"He's got all of the attributes to play at this level and above because he's so athletic and so calm; on the ball and in one v one situations.

"He's adding goals to his game as well which we always knew was there.

"He's got such a great leap on him and he's very difficult to mark on set plays and that was a great finish."