Wrexham’s Josh Windass Ruled Out Of West Brom Clash

Josh Windass will miss Wrexham’s Championship meeting with West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday after suffering ankle ligament damage during the draw at Derby County.

Phil Parkinson has offered a more encouraging assessment following a scan, saying the injury is less serious than initially feared. However, the forward needs the swelling in his ankle to settle before he can return.

Windass was forced off after 15 minutes at Pride Park on Saturday, adding another setback to a season already interrupted by injury. No firm return date has been announced.

Parkinson’s initial reaction after the Derby match reflected concern for a player who had been building momentum in training.

Speaking after the 1-1 draw away at Derby County, the manager said Windass had enjoyed a productive three-week period during the international break. His early withdrawal was therefore particularly frustrating after missing pre-season.

Monday’s update offers reassurance about its severity, though it does not confirm how many fixtures Windass will miss beyond West Brom. Any decision about subsequent matches must depend on his recovery rather than an assumed timetable.

Windass’s withdrawal came during a Derby trip for which Parkinson was already missing several players.

Callum Doyle, Ben Sheaf, Matty James and Liberato Cacace were absent, forcing changes to the available personnel. Parkinson praised Joe Worrall's contribution and said Dominic Hyam had been moved to the left of the defence.

The manager’s post-match comments acknowledged that Wrexham’s quality had suffered, while defending the effort of a side dealing with disruption.

Losing another attacking option places greater importance on the players available for Tuesday.

Ollie Rathbone’s late equaliser at Pride Park showed the value of having alternative options in a well-put-together squad. His goal secured a point, but replacing Windass over a full match presents a different selection decision.

Wrexham host West Brom at 7.45 pm on Tuesday before welcoming Preston North End on Saturday afternoon. The short turnaround leaves Parkinson with limited time to prepare between the two fixtures.

The manager must balance the need for attacking improvement with the players’ availability, with Wrexham’s focus now shifting to selecting a side capable of taking three points against West Brom while allowing Windass the time required to recover.

West Brom sit ninth in the Championship with 14 points from nine matches, recording four wins, two draws and three defeats. They have scored ten goals and conceded nine.

Two consecutive 1–0 losses to Wolves and Birmingham have checked their progress ahead of Tuesday’s trip to face Wrexham at the Racecourse.