Wrexham defender Cleworth set for two months out
Max Cleworth made his Wrexham debut in 2019
- Published
Wrexham defender Max Cleworth has been ruled out for eight weeks with a hamstring injury.
Cleworth, 24, sustained the injury during the first half of Tuesday's 1-1 draw at home to Burnley.
"He overstretched the ball in a bit of a tangle and he just overstretched his hamstring," manager Phil Parkinson said.
"It is a bit more serious than we first thought, so he's going to be eight weeks out."
Cleworth had started the Red Dragons' last three fixtures and his absence will force Parkinson into a defensive reshuffle.
Wrexham travel to West Ham United on Friday, 11 September (20:00 BST) and then host Southampton on Saturday, 19 September before the international break.
Wrexham play five fixtures in October, with Parkinson confident the promotion hopefuls have sufficient cover.
He said: "Max came in and did well, he took his opportunity, but Zak Vyner was our best player in pre-season in America and started the season great against Middlesbrough and Cardiff.
"Also, Aaron James has done really well pre-season and we kept him here. We didn't let him go out on loan because we knew we needed him and trust him.
"Dom Hyam and Joe Worrell can all play in those positions so we've got options.
"We're frustrated for Max because he'd come back into the team and did really well but that's what we've got a squad for and we've got the players to make sure it won't hinder us too much."
Josh Windass scored 17 goals in his first season with Wrexham
Parkinson said the calf injury Josh Windass suffered against Burnley is not serious and the forward is available to face the Hammers.
"It was only a whack, we've had that scanned, so that's really positive news for us," he added.
"Everyone's got to remember with Josh that he's almost having his pre-season within the season.
"He didn't play a single minute in pre-season. We've got to manage his minutes and make sure that we get him right to where we need to be because he's a very important player for us.
"He is a player that produces real quality moments, as he showed last year."
Wrexham are also boosted by the return of midfielder Ben Sheaf, who is yet to feature this season.
Sheaf had been out with a calf injury but is in the travelling party for the trip to face second-placed West Ham at London Stadium.
