It’s crazy how right Phil Parkinson was about Max Cleworth after Wrexham triumphed over Stockport County
Wrexham are set face off with old rivals Stockport County in a League One fixture on March 22nd.
Wrexham go into the meeting aiming to once again knock Wycombe Wanderers out of the automatic promotion places.
Stockport County, meanwhile, are fighting for a play-off place and a win on Saturday could see them mount a late push to secure a top-two finish.
It’s not the first time the duo have been in close contention to secure a promotion in recent years.
Just last season saw the two League One high-flyers going head-to-head in the fourth tier of English football.
Stockport ended up winning the League Two title, but it was Wrexham who had the last laugh on the final day of 2023/24.
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Phil Parkisnon’s Max Cleworth prediction after Stockport County was spot-on
With promotion for both sides already secured, Wrexham and Stockport went head-to-head on April 27th, 2024.
There was nothing really on the line for both sides other than pride but it was still nice to see the home outfit end their promotion-winning campaign on a high.
Andy Cannon and Ollie Palmer netted as Wrexham came away with a 2-1 win, but it was another player who Phil Parkinson chose to praise post-match.
Cannon’s goal against Stockport was set up by Max Cleworth following a charging run down the right.
After his contribution in that meeting back in April, Parkinson made a big Cleworth prediction, tipping the defender to improve the attacking side of his game even more.
He said: “What a fantastic moment for everybody when Andy Cannon has finished off in great style.
“It was a great move, Maxi’s joined in and created that overload on the right-hand side, something we encourage him to do and I still think there’s more from him to come because he’s so good in forward areas.”
The centre-back only scored one and assisted one across 2023/24 but less than a year later, it turns out Parkinson couldn’t have been more right about Cleworth offering more going forward.
Despite playing in the same position, he now has a staggering seven goals in 33 matches this term, making him the club’s joint-top scorer in League One.
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Wrexham may already have another Max Cleworth
It’s clear that Cleworth has been one of if not the standout performer for Wrexham across all of 2024/25.
His ball-playing ability is superb and his goals have proven invaluable during periods when the Red Dragons’ strikers just weren’t finding the back of the net.
But while he’s still only 22 years of age, it looks as though Wrexham may have a new Cleworth already on their books.
The player in question is Tom Kelly, who managed to net himself a brace in the club’s recent 3-2 U18 victory over Harrogate Town despite, like Cleworth, playing the tie at centre-back.
