JAMES MCCLEAN says it is a "great honour" being made Wrexham captain and he goes out every game with the intention of leading by example.

Phil Parkinson had to appoint a new skipper after Luke Young and Ben Tozer left The Racecourse at the end of last season.

McClean and Paul Mullin both donned the armband when Young and Tozer were absent in 2023-24 and it is the former Republic of Ireland international who has taken on the role for the Reds in League One this term.

The 35-year-old has become a huge fans' favourite in north Wales and he is proud to lead out his team-mates. 

"It is a great honour to be given the armband," said McClean, preparing for tomorrow's clash with Charlton Athletic at The Valley.

"Leading this group of lads out is special, to be trusted with that role is something I take great pride in.

"Hopefully I can help continue the success this season as well.

"The fans and everybody around the club has taken to me and that means a lot when you join a club and you feel valued as a footballer and a person.

"If you feel valued, it does go a long way and helps you produce your best."

McClean, who played for Sunderland, Wigan twice, West Brom and Stoke City before arriving at The Racecourse in August 2023, has vowed to keep giving his all for Wrexham.

"I have never been a roaring treasure but if my work-rate and what I do around the place rubs off on other players, then brilliant," he said.

"It is important for me, especially as captain, to set the tone in terms of intensity and hopefully that's what I do.

"For me to be given the armband and the opportunity to lead this team out, I feel it is a responsibility for me to make sure that I am bang at it each game when it comes to setting the tone."

He added: "When you step on the football pitch, you represent that badge 100 per cent.

"You give everything and I think fans can resinate with that.

"When you are given the honour of wearing the jersey and representing the club, you give the maximum you can and I will continue to do that."

McClean has played at the highest level and represented his country 103 times but the wide-man says the Wrexham changing room is among the best he has experienced.

"I have been quite fortunate to share many good dressing rooms with many good lads and I can definitely say that this dressing room is right up there," said McClean.

"It is a fantastic dressing room, everyone is pulling in the right direction and that is testament to the manager.

"He has put this squad together and being a good person is just as important as being a good player."

Wrexham are second in League One and McClean, who has started all 12 games this season, added: "You look at the squad we have and the quality we have, we're more than a match for anybody, but you have to be bang at it every game."