MAX CLEWORTH is relishing making the step-up to League One and the young centre-back says momentum will stand Wrexham in good stead.

Phil Parkinson’s men have celebrated back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club’s history and begin life in the third tier with a home game against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

The Reds, backed by Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are tipped to challenge for at least a play-off spot but Cleworth knows it won’t be easy in a highly competitive division which contains the likes of Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town and Charlton Athletic.

But after going straight up two years in a row when winning has become a habit, the 21-year-old believes the success that Wrexham have enjoyed under Parkinson will count for a lot when the action begins and he insists the Reds are not there just to make up the numbers.

“It is by no means going to be easy, especially with the calibre of some of the clubs in the division,” said Cleworth, a two-time Young Player of the Season winner.

“But it is a challenge I am looking forward to and I know the lads are, and it is one the club should be looking forward to as well having been out of League One for so long.

“It is a challenge the whole club and town have got to embrace and enjoy.

“We know it is going to be difficult but we have certainly got the squad and the fanbase to compete at this level.

“The club has got momentum on its side at the minute so why not try and continue that?

“We know it will be hard but we are certainly not going in to make up the numbers. We are going to give it our best shot.

“We are a humble team with humble staff but we know we can compete with some of the best teams in the league and we will try and show that this season.”

Reds boss Parkinson has played a key role in Cleworth’s development and he is looking forward to seeing the young centre-back continue his journey with Wrexham.

The 21-year-old, a product of the club’s youth programme, has signed a new three-year contract keeping him at The Racecourse until the end of the 2026-27 season.

After making his first-team bow in the Scottish Challenge Cup against Ayr United in 2019, Cleworth made his league debut in Parkinson’s first game in charge of the Reds on the opening day of the 2021-22 campaign at Solihull Moors.

Cleworth was a permanent fixture in Wrexham’s defence in the second half of 2023-24 and produced a series of impressive performances, helping the Reds secure runners-up spot in League Two to make it back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club’s history.

Recognised for his efforts by being voted Young Player of the Season for a second time on the back of his 2021-22 award, Cleworth has made nearly 100 appearances in all competitions for Wrexham and Parkinson feels there is more to come from the defender.

“It has been great to watch Max’s journey with us,” said the Reds’ boss. “He has developed as a player immensely over the last few years.

“We threw him in at the deep end when I initially came to the club and he has matured as a player and a person.

“Max reads the game well and he has got that athleticism you need for going up through the divisions in football. He is a great one v one defender.

“He has got a lot of attributes to his game and we are excited about working with him in the coming seasons.

“It is very important we keep our best young players. A lot of work has gone into the development of Max; not just from myself, Steve Parkin, Dave Jones and the sport science department but from previous people as well.

“It is important that now he is really starting to show his potential that we keep Max with us and enjoy watching his development.”