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Time to shine
Phil Parkinson wants his Wrexham side to prove they belong at a higher level when they face Sheffield United in their FA Cup fourth round replay tonight.
The ambitious Welsh club are pushing for promotion from the National League and went toe-to-toe with the Championship outfit when they met last month.
Only a stoppage-time Blades equaliser denied the Dragons a famous victory at the Racecourse Ground and they now know a tie with Premier League giants Tottenham awaits the victor of tonight’s replay at Bramall Lane.
Parkinson, 55, said: “The cup is just a bonus, helping raise the profile of the club and players.
“I think a lot of players have shown they can live in that company and now the challenge is for them to show they have the consistency to do it not just in one-off games.
“It was a great first game. Obviously, we would have loved to have got through at the first time of asking but there is another chance for us. It’s a great opportunity to play at a terrific stadium and test ourselves again.
“The lads haven’t spoken about it but it is a great draw and we will do everything we can to try to get to that stage.”
Atsu rescued
Former Newcastle winger Christian Atsu has been rescued from the rubble of a Turkish building following an earthquake in the country, his club’s vice president has revealed.
The 31-year-old Ghana international, now plying his trade with Super Lig side Hatayspor, was unaccounted for alongside sporting director Taner Savut in the aftermath of the disaster that has killed more than 4,000 people.
Club chief Mustafa Ozat said Atsu had been pulled from the wreckage but confirmed Savut was still in the collapsed building.
He told Turkish radio: “Christian Atsu was removed from the wreckage with injuries.
“Unfortunately, our sporting director Taner Savut is still under the rubble.
“Hatay was deeply affected. We are coming towards the end of the most dangerous hours.”
Atsu made 121 appearances for Newcastle and also spent time at Everton and Bournemouth.
Chelsea hire All Black
Chelsea have hired no-nonsense All Blacks leadership coach Gilbert Enoka in a short-term consultancy role.
The 57-year-old was part of the coaching staff when New Zealand won the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015, while he has also worked with the country’s cricket team.
The post at Stamford Bridge will be Enoka’s first in football and his main assignment is set to be developing a team culture and integrating several arrivals into Graham Potter’s squad.
The ninth-placed Blues brought in eight new faces in the January transfer window at a cost of nearly £300million.
Mentality pleases Maloney
New Wigan manager Shaun Maloney praised the mentality of his team after they secured a 0-0 draw with promotion contenders Blackburn in his first game in charge.
Former Latics midfielder Maloney was chosen as Kolo Toure’s successor last month with the club bottom of the Championship after losing five of their last six prior to Monday’s encounter.
Following the hard-earned draw at Ewood Park to kick off his reign, he said: “Parts of the first half were OK in possession. Second half, we had to defend and we did.
“It’s been a big part of the last seven to eight days since we came in. We have to make ourselves a lot harder to beat, so I’m really happy.
“First half, I liked the bravery in possession. Remember, I’m asking them to do things they haven’t done in a while really.
“If anything, I thought we could have been more aggressive when we’re attacking, but I think that will come. The biggest thing has to be the mentality not to get beat, to defend the box.
“I have to love the mentality of the group.”
