Sports
Team News and Predicted Starting Lineups for Championship Match
Wrexham and Coventry City will go head-to-head in the Championship at the Racecourse Ground on Friday night, with both teams desperate for a victory.
Phil Parkinson’s side have struggled for form in recent times and come into this game on the back of just one win in their last seven in all competitions, after they suffered elimination from the Carabao Cup thanks to a 2-1 defeat to League One Cardiff in midweek. Frank Lampard, on the other hand, has led his side to the top of the table and they are unbeaten over the season so far.
Both teams have some injury issues to deal with, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expects the sides to line up.
Wrexham Team News
Wrexham have had a difficult campaign so far this season, and they come into this with a number of players unavailable for this game against the league leaders.
Lewis Brunt is set to be absent for 12 weeks after picking up a thigh injury against Middlesbrough, while Callum Doyle is still suspended. Ben Sheaf is a doubt after missing the last three games, but Danny Ward, Harry Ashfield, Andy Cannon and Jay Rodriguez are all ruled out with injuries.
|
Wrexham Injuries and Suspensions |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Injury |
Potential Return Date |
|
Ben Sheaf |
Knock |
31/10/2025 |
|
Ollie Rathbone |
Knock |
31/10/2025 |
|
Callum Doyle |
Suspended |
05/11/2025 |
|
Danny Ward |
Elbow |
09/01/2026 |
|
Harry Ashfield |
Knee |
Unknown |
|
Andy Cannon |
Knee |
Unknown |
|
Jay Rodriguez |
Ankle |
Unknown |
|
Lewis Brunt |
Thigh |
17/01/2026 |
Parkinson Drops Team News Update
Speaking before the game, Parkinson shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.
“It’s not good with Brunty. He had a scan and he’s going to see a specialist. We are hoping that he won’t need an operation but it is a long-term injury; the actual time-scale on that we won’t know until he’s seen the specialist.
“We have got problems in a few areas of the team, we’re a little bit stretched at the moment, but we’ll deal with those and also protect a few of the lads who have been carrying knocks in these last two league games, and assess those closer to kick-off.
“In any situation like this, you have got to balance the team selection out. Not putting players at risk who have played a lot of minutes and after a Wednesday-Saturday game, we have probably got to get some freshness on the pitch.
“We have got a big game on Friday, but, equally, we have got to pick the team we feel can get through to the quarter-finals. That’s what we’ve done successfully so far in this competition.”
Wrexham Predicted XI
- Wrexham Predicted XI: Okonkwo; Cleworth, Hyam, Scarr; Kabore, Dobson, Thomason, James, Longman; Moore, Windass.
- Wrexham Predicted Substitutes: Burton (GK), Cacace (DEF), Coady (DEF), Barnett (MID), Broadhead (MID), O’Brien (MID), Burton (MID), McClean (FWD), Smith (FWD), Hardie (FWD).
With a number of players unavailable, Parkinson may look to keep things similar to the draw with Middlesbrough last week, but with Dan Scarr coming in for the injured Lewis Brunt.
That should leave experienced £53,000-a-week duo Conor Coady and Lewis O’Brien on the bench.
Coventry City Team News
Coventry have won their last six games in a row, and they will continue to be without a number of first-team players as they look to extend that run.
The Sky Blues remain without the injured Oliver Dovin and Jack Rudoni, but Joel Latibeaudiere and Victor Torp could be available for the trip to Wales after being absent last time out.
|
Coventry Injuries and Suspensions |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Injury |
Potential Return Date |
|
Oliver Dovin |
Knee |
January 2026 |
|
Joel Latibeaudiere |
Knee |
31/10/2025 |
|
Victor Torp |
Calf |
31/10/2025 |
|
Jack Rudoni |
Calf |
Unknown |
Lampard Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Lampard shared an update ahead of the game.
“It’s a great story, a brilliant story that we’ve all followed to some degree. I played against Wrexham many, many years ago when I was on loan at Swansea, and I think I gave a penalty away. To think where the stadium was at then, and the team was at then… they’ve obviously got a big following and to see what the owners have done, come at it from a different angle, come at it with a lot of passion, everyone has bought into it.
“We’re playing them, of course, and we want to win the game, but as a story I think it’s fantastic and we should promote those stories of clubs who have invested, and have tried to have a go, and they’re having a go. I think it’s a really positive story in general.
“[We want to win] Every game. We have to analyse the opposition and how dangerous every game is in it’s own way. Wrexham have gone away and got some good results this season already, against some big teams in the league, which we saw that they did at the weekend, so we have to focus on ourselves and try to give our best.”
Coventry Predicted XI
- Coventry Predicted XI: Rushworth; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Dasilva; Allen, Grimes; Sakamoto, Thomas-Asante, Mason-Clark; Wright.
- Coventry Predicted Substitutes: Wilson (GK), Hayden (DEF), Woolfenden (DEF), Brau (DEF), Bidwell (DEF), Andrews (MID), Shepherd (MID), Eccles (MID), Simms (FWD).
The current league leaders are likely to go with an unchanged side from their win over Watford last time out, with Ephron Mason-Clark, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Haji Wright likely to lead the line in attack.
That should see £50,000-a-week duo Ellis Simms and defender Luke Woolfenden on the bench to provide experience and depth.
Sports
Tottenham Eye Bargain Deal To Sign Marcus Rashford
Tottenham Hotspur are keen to add more experience to Roberto De Zerbi’s ranks after avoiding relegation to the Championship last month.
Spurs retained their Premier League status with a 1-0 win over Everton on the final day of the campaign as London rivals West Ham United were relegated.
Plans are now in motion to strengthen their squad for a full season under De Zerbi. The North London outfit have already agreed deals for Liverpool defender Andy Robertson and Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi – with both moves just awaiting official confirmation.
Both players will join on free transfers with their contracts at their respective clubs to expire at the end of this month.
Now Spurs are in the market for more bargains and are interested in a move for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
Tottenham eye move for Marcus Rashford
That is according to a report from the i Paper, who claim Rashford is of interest as Spurs look to add Premier League experience to their squad.
Rashford spent last season on loan at Barcelona as he helped the Spanish giants retain the La Liga title. However, Barca’s £69million move to sign Anthony Gordon last week may stop them going through with their option to buy deal.
Rashford has played 297 times in the Premier League and scored 97 goals along with providing 42 assists. Rashford is also attracting interest from Newcastle United and Aston Villa.
The England international spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Villa. Newcastle, meanwhile, see him as a potential replacement for Gordon.
No offers have been tabled to United as things stand.
Marcus Rashford prefers Barcelona move
According to the report, Rashford’s preference is to return to Barcelona. The La Liga outfit have a £26million option to buy the player but that expires on June 15.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, sporting director Deco and president Joan Laporta all want the player to return to the La Liga champions.
While the Spanish club do want to keep Rashford, they do not want to spend the £26million and are more likely to offer £15million to United after June 15.
The Red Devils are relaxed about the situation and believe interest from other clubs gives them a better chance of selling Rashford for £26million, which in itself is a bargain price for a player of his quality and experience.
If Rashford does not leave the Red Devils before pre-season, he is expected to report to Carrington after the World Cup.
He is under contract with United until 2028, with wages worth £325,000-a-week.
Rashford, who Gordon labelled as ‘one of the best players in the world’, would upgrade Tottenham’s attack and provide the experience the club wants this summer.
Barca’s unwillingness to meet the £26million fee gives Spurs an opening to bring the player to North London.
After Robertson And Senesi: Tottenham Must Seal Five Deals for Dream De Zerbi Squad
Roberto De Zerbi will need to make more signings in the summer transfer window
Sports
Arsenal Get Green Light To Hijack Man Utd Move For ‘Elite’ Midfielder
Mateus Fernandes has been given the ‘green light’ to leave West Ham United following their relegation from the Premier League, according to TEAMtalk.
The Hammers need to sell a handful of players after dropping out of the top flight, with the club required to raise as much as £150million through player sales.
Fernandes is attracting interest from several Premier League sides, with Manchester United in talks over a move to sign the Portuguese star.
The 21-year-old joined West Ham last summer from Southampton, after the Saints were relegated. He still has four years left on his contract at the London Stadium and the Irons are not willing to let him go for cheap.
West Ham want £80m for Mateus Fernandes
According to TEAMtalk, West Ham will demand £80million to sell the ‘elite’ Fernandes this summer.
A fee in that region would smash the Championship transfer record, which currently stands at £53million following Romeo Lavia’s move to Chelsea from Southampton three years ago.
But Manchester United could see their move to sign Fernandes hijacked by Arsenal.
The Gunners have already made contact with the Hammers about a move for the player and are weighing up making a formal bid. While the Irons want £80million for the midfielder, offers are expected to be in the region of £60million.
Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in the player.
Former Liverpool player Jan Molby branded Fernandes as an ‘exceptional’ player who has ‘got it all’ and believes the midfielder is the ‘real deal’.
Mateus Fernandes can make Arsenal stronger
Fernandes was predominantly used as a central midfielder for West Ham last season but can play in a more attacking role, as well as a defensive one too.
Declan Rice is one of the first names on the team-sheet at Arsenal but there is room for Fernandes to force his way into Mikel Arteta’s starting XI, if the Gunners make a move.
Martin Zubimendi impressed during the first half of the campaign but his performances started to drop off in the final months. Martin Odegaard is captain at Arsenal but the Norwegian has been troubled by persistent injury problems.
Arsenal will be keen to build on their Premier League title win and go one better in the Champions League after losing to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties last weekend.
Fernandes might not start every game if he moved to the Emirates Stadium but he would give Arteta an incredibly-strong rotation option who can play in any position in Arsenal’s midfield three.
If the Gunners want to retain their title and challenge on more fronts, having two quality players in almost every position will give them the best chance of winning more trophies next term.
He Wants to Join: Arsenal Hold Talks to Sign ‘Generational’ Forward
Arsenal are preparing for another busy window.
Sports
Kyle Walker Names 3 Players Tuchel Should’ve Included in England’s World Cup Squad
Former England international Kyle Walker has named the three players that Thomas Tuchel should’ve named in his squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Tuchel named his 26-man England squad at the end of May. The likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice were among the players named in a hugely talented group.
The German left out some big names from his side. Some old heads that have been integral for England over the past decade were omitted, as were some younger players despite impressive campaigns.
Walker, capped 96 times by his country, will also not travel to North America after announcing his retirement from international football earlier this year.
Walker Names 3 English Players That He Would Have Taken to the World Cup
Walker has joined The Sun as a columnist and pundit for its coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has now revealed three stars he would have picked for the World Cup if he was Three Lions boss. Speaking at a special show for The Sun previewing this summer’s tournament, Walker said:
“I probably would have taken Morgan Gibbs-White. He’s been fantastic for Forest.”
Gibbs-White was controversially left out of Tuchel’s side despite a superb campaign with Nottingham Forest. He scored 15 times and recorded seven assists in the Premier League for the Tricky Trees last season.
Walker, now 36 years old, also said that Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw should’ve been included in defence. He added:
“I come back to the defence. I do think there’s a lot there that have probably not played too great or who are carrying injuries that, can you completely rely on for the stretch of the tournament? That’s where I probably question some of them, but I’m not the manager.
“A fit Reece James is the best right-back in the world, for me. But can he (stay fit)? I think (John Stones) is a tremendous player. John’s problem is keeping fit.
“Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw have probably had the best seasons for Manchester United in a long time and are now not at the tournament. I do think Luke Shaw, for me, should have been on the plane and I do think Harry Maguire should have been on the plane.”
Shaw played every match in the Premier League this season, while Maguire was excluded from Tuchel’s side despite an impressive campaign at the heart of United’s defence.
Maguire said he was ‘shocked’ and gutted’ after learning he had been left out.
Kyle Walker Gives Take on Phil Foden’s Omission
Phil Foden was also a controversial omission from Tuchel. Walker stopped short from saying he would’ve taken his former teammate to the World Cup.
He said: “I really like Phil Foden. I’ve played with him for eight years, but he’s not on the plane.
“The players the manager has picked, he’s had the tough decision of picking 26 players to go on that plane and we have to trust in him that they are the right ones.
“It’s football. What do you do, sulk and cry in the corner, or work harder? think that in life there’s always setbacks, especially in football. It’s about how Phil bounces back now. You can’t affect that, that’s gone.
“He just needs to make sure that come the start of the new season, whoever the new manager will be for Manchester City now Pep has left, he puts his best foot forward and makes sure that he is the first name on the team sheet.”
England kickstart their World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 17. Matches against Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27 follow.
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