Southampton vs Wrexham live: Championship build-up, team news, line-ups and latest updates as Conor Coady and Kieffer Moore start

The Wrexham manager said: “It’s amazing that we’ll be running out at Southampton in front of a packed house, against a team that has spent a lot of time in the Premier League over the last few years.

“When I look at my first game here, Solihull away in front of a couple of thousand people, and four years later we’re running out at Southampton.”

The last league encounter between Southampton and Wrexham was in April 1960 in the third tier with the Welsh side winning 2-1 after goals from Ron Harbertson and Bernard Evans.

The tow clubs have only faced each other seven times but the honours are pretty much even.

Here’s the head-to-head record:

Southampton defender Jack Stephens spoke about today’s match saying:

“I think on an individual basis, you’re probably not 100 per cent sure of what they’re going to do.

“They’ve got a lot of things that they’ve been successful with over the past three or four years. So I can’t see them changing too much from what they’ve been successful with.”

Wrexham XI: Ward: Cleworth, Coady, Brunt: Barnett, Dobson, M. James, O’Brien; Cacace, Windass: Moore

Southampton XI: Bazunu: Sugawara, Edwards, Stephens, Quarshie; Welington, Downes, Charles; Fraser, Robinson, Armstrong

This is the first meeting in any competition between Southampton and Wrexham since the 1979/80 League Cup second round.

Saints won 5-0 at home and 3-0 away in a two-legged tie.

Will they repeat one of those results today or will the game be a closer affair?

James McClean has signed a new contract with Wrexham taking him through to the end of the 2026/27 season.

McClean has made 89 appearances for Wrexham since joining in 2023 and captained the team to their League One promotion last season.

McClean said: “I’m delighted to be extending my contract with the Club. It’s no secret that I’ve enjoyed my time here and I want to help continue the success we’ve had so far.”

Wrexham have undergone a seismic metamorphosis since being purchased by actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds through Wrexham Holdings LLC in November 2020, becoming the first club in the history of England’s top five football divisions to achieve back-to-back-to-back promotions. And while there have been several protagonists in that journey, one of the most important instigators in their growth is Les Reed.

Wrexham, meanwhile, will field a squad vastly strengthened by their summer business, with ex-Premier League stars Coady, Moore and Danny Ward in line to make their debuts. Liberato Cacace, New Zealand’s versatile left-back, was a mainstay in Serie A last term and should also make his first competitive start.

However, Jay Rodriguez will not get the chance to reunite with his old club as he sits on the treatment table, with Ollie Rathbone and George Thomason also injured.

Predicted Wrexham XI: Ward; O’Connell, Coady, Brunt; Longman, Lee, O’Brien, Cacace; McClean; Windass, Moore.