THE first players for the men’s team representing the Wrexham Red Dragons at TST 2024 have been revealed, the club has announced.
The $1 million winner-takes-all 7-a-side tournament takes place in Cary, North Carolina, from June 5-10 with an expanded 48-team men’s tournament and brand new eight-team women’s tournament at Wakemed Soccer Park.
Wrexham Red Dragons will return to the men’s competition, having won all three group-stage matches last season before defeat to former US internationals Jimmy Conrad and DaMarcus Beasley’s eponymous team in the knock-out stages.
First-team coach David Jones, who will again be player-manager, goalkeeper Mark Howard and young defender Scott Butler were in the team last year and will return.
Former Premier League ace George Boyd, is back and will once again be representing Wrexham as a guest player.
Ex-Wrexham midfielder Dan Jarvis, who was the Reds’ top scorer after hitting two hat-tricks in last season's event, is confirmed to return for 2024 too, having spent last season with Kettering Town.
Among those making their TST debuts in 2024 will be Wrexham first-team pros Aaron James and Jake Bickerstaff.
Bob Clark Academy Player of the Season, Harry Ashfield, is also selected while team-mates Callum Edwards and goalkeeper Liam Hall will also be flying out for their first taste of TST action.
Also debuting will be two new guest stars. Honduran international Roger Espinoza - an FA Cup winner with Wigan in 2013 who made more than 200 MLS appearances for Sporting Kansas City - and well-travelled forward Gary Hooper, who enjoyed success with Scunthorpe, Celtic, Norwich and Sheffield Wednesday.
The final players travelling to be part of this year’s Wrexham Red Dragons squad will be confirmed in due course.
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