Wrexham boss Parkinson sees Man Utd friendly as key test

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has described Saturday's pre-season friendly against Manchester United in Helsinki as a 'great test' for his side, as the League One club continues its preparations for the upcoming season.

Parkinson's team will face Erik ten Hag's Premier League outfit at the Olympic Stadium, with the fixture forming part of both clubs' summer schedules. The Welsh side previously defeated a youthful United team 3-1 in a pre-season friendly in San Diego in July 2023.

Parkinson on the challenge

Speaking ahead of the match, Parkinson acknowledged that United will pose a stern test despite likely being without several first-team players who featured in the recent World Cup. 'For Man United, it's an important game for them as it is for us,' he said. 'They've got players who will be coming back late, but they still have a lot of first-team players available.'

The Wrexham boss emphasised the importance of defensive organisation against top-quality opposition. 'The out-of-possession stuff becomes really important against the better quality teams. But as we've always done, we're not just going to these games to stop the opposition.'

• Wrexham face Manchester United in Helsinki on Saturday
• The sides met in San Diego last year, with Wrexham winning 3-1
• Several United players are absent due to post-World Cup recovery
• The match is part of both clubs' pre-season preparations
• Wrexham will then travel to the US for games against Leeds, Liverpool and Sunderland

What's next for Wrexham

After the Helsinki fixture, Wrexham will fly to the United States for a series of high-profile friendlies against Leeds United, Liverpool and Sunderland. Parkinson noted that such games have become a staple of their pre-season under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, adding: 'The main thing for both teams is the game has got the right intensity level.'

Defenders Dom Hyam and Liberato Cacace have returned to training after representing Scotland and New Zealand respectively at the World Cup, though neither featured extensively in the tournament. Parkinson confirmed he has been in contact with both players during their time away.