Brunt added to Wrexham squad amid James concern

Lewis Brunt has been added to Wrexham's 25-man squad for the remainder of the campaign as boss Phil Parkinson confirmed Matty James' foot injury is worse than originally feared.

Defender Brunt has been sidelined since sustaining a thigh injury in the Red Dragons' 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough on 25 October.

Midfielder James suffered a fractured toe in Wrexham's 2-0 defeat by Millwall on 7 February, but could be sidelined for longer than first thought.

New signing Zak Vyner is also close to being available as Liberato Cacace continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

"Lewis comes into the 25-man squad, I just wanted to make sure his thigh was OK," Parkinson said of Brunt.

"Zak needed this week's training, he'd done running prior to this week, but it was a bit of a broken week with a game.

"We knew that when we brought him in and we want to make sure that he's right when he gets his opportunity."

Brunt was initially left out of the 25-man squad submitted to the English Football League following the January transfer window, but has taken up one of the two spaces left vacant by the Red Dragons.

On James and Cacace, Parkinson commented: "The other two are not as good unfortunately.

"Matty's toe hasn't settled as quickly as we'd first hoped and Libby is just that bit behind, but we're just trying to get him ready."

Bailey Cadamarteri is yet to feature for Wrexham since joining the club from Championship rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

The forward's fellow deadline day signing Davis Keillor-Dunn - who made his second Wrexham debut in the 2-0 loss to Millwall - is also vying for game time over the remainder of the run-in.

And Parkinson feels the pair will be ready when called upon having adapted well in training since moving to north Wales.

"I think they're adapting well into the training and fitting in with the group really well, and both have got to be patient," added Parkinson.

"They've come into a team which is doing well with some good players, but their time will come.

"They'll make sure that they're training at the levels required so when the opportunity comes, they're ready to take it."