THE transfer window is shut, and I’d say Phil Parkinson played his hand rather well.

The complications of financial regulations and squad limits makes constructing a squad a terrific challenge.

However, Parkinson met those challenges rather neatly, and his planning became apparent when his final signing of the window was announced.

The deadline day purchase of Mo Faal, a player tipped by his most recent manager to achieve great things, wasn’t just a smart piece of business.

It also rather neatly solved the issue of who we should register for the first half of the season.

Faal is classed, for registration purposes, as an under-21 player, so he doesn’t have to be submitted as part of our squad list.

Therefore, Parkinson neatly side-steps a problem. If Faal had been old enough to be registered, he’d have to leave a senior squad player out of his roster.

That would mean they could not appear in the EFL, left with the scant consolation of appearing in the FA Cup and EFL Trophy.

As a guide, two players who weren’t registered last September – Bryce Hosannah and Callum McFadzean – and the one who didn’t make the cut in February – Liam McAlinden – were all moved on before the summer.

The one player to survive being left out was Billy Waters, and the club was open to offers for him.

Now Parkinson can select everyone in his senior squad, should he choose to.

He’s moved some good quality players out on loan, and while many have written off their chances of claiming a spot in Parkinson’s squad upon their return, I wouldn’t be so hasty.

Parkinson definitely rates Jordan Davies, Sam Dalby and Jake Bickerstaff, and I’m certain he will want to see them develop and bang on his door on their return, demanding a chance.

Davies has already written himself into Wrexham folklore. Injuries have hampered him badly, but if he can regain the form he showed three seasons ago, when he hit 21 goals and made 11 assists, it’ll be difficult to ignore him.

His start with Grimsby has been mixed. He’s made a terrific start on the pitch, suggesting he could return similar figures again, only to break down with an injury.

Let’s hope he can return swiftly and continue to send Parkinson a message.

Dalby is in a similar boat. Already involved in our first three games of the season, Parkinson clearly wouldn’t have had any problem with naming him in his squad if the Faal deal hadn’t gone through.

His spell at Dundee United is a massive opportunity.

If he can make an impact in a top tier league like that, Wrexham wouldn’t just be looking to add him to our squad; we’d be fighting off transfer offers.

He made his debut last weekend in an excellent away win. Surely being at a club of such stature will provide a massive boost to his confidence and help his development.

Our swift progress up the divisions has been particularly harsh for Jake Bickerstaff. Max Cleworth has shown that Parkinson will reward youth players, but Bickerstaff has found himself in the most competitive area of the squad.

Parkinson rates Bickerstaff (pictured right) as a good finisher, and his energy when called upon has impressed. Let’s not forget the important job he did at the start of last season, when Paul Mullin was out.

However, as he improves, so does our league status. It would be terrific to see him have an explosive goalscoring season to ensure Parkinson gives him his chance in the future.

With the money to bring in new players if required, it’s difficult to see a way in which Waters will push himself back into contention at the STōK Cae Ras.

You should never say never in football, and Waters is a diligent player with a solid record.

However, returning to North Wales and getting past Mullin, Ollie Palmer, Steven Fletcher, Jack Marriott and Faal to claim a starting place is hard to imagine, especially when you remember that Dalby and Bickerstaff will be ahead of him on their return.

We’re in a strong position, equal top of the table with many of our new signings still box-fresh and waiting for a chance to show they can improve the team.

With talented players out on loan, developing so they can push themselves back into contention, Parkinson’s ability to build quality and competition into his squad over the summer should be applauded.

Last season’s FA Cup win at Shrewsbury maintained a bizarre sequence of results in this fixture.

We’ve won four of the last 10 derbies with Salop, but all those wins came on their territory.

They’ve won the last three times they came to North Wales, their best run at the STōK Cae Ras, and the second game in that sequence equalled their biggest win here, 3-1, in February 2007.