ANDY CANNON misses Saturday's clash with Exeter City at The Racecourse through suspension but Phil Parkinson hopes two injured midfielders are closing in on a return to action.

Cannon picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the 1-0 defeat to Stockport County in League One last weekend and will serve a one-match suspension against the Grecians, with Ollie Rathbone and Matty James in contention to take his place in the side.

Although Evans and Jones are still not available, Parkinson says the duo are making good progress along with striker Steven Fletcher.

Evans damaged ankle ligaments in the 1-0 defeat at Stevenage on October 1 while Jones, who has found opportunities limited this season and hasn't started a league game, is recovering from a foot problem and Fletcher (knee) could also be back in the fold soon.

"James and George are going to be back running this week," said the Reds' boss.

"George is progressing well but it is difficult to say when he will be back.

"Kevin Mulholland is just waiting to see how he reacts with his work this week, and the same with James.

"The hope is we will have those two back in close contention in the next few weeks, and hopefully the same with Fletch."

WIN A SIGNED WREXHAM SHIRT

With Fletcher absent and top scorer Jack Marriott out until at least February after breaking a leg in training last month, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Ollie Palmer were paired in attack at Stockport.

Bodvarsson was handed his first league start for Wrexham and Parkinson explained why star striker Paul Mullin was named on the substitutes bench.

"I just felt it was right to go with Bodvarsson," he added.

"I have got to protect him a little bit because he is having his pre-season within a season and I just thought I would freshen it up at the top of the pitch.

"The plan was to bring Mulls on when the game opened up a little bit to see if he could get that moment of quality and he so nearly did when he was inches away from putting the ball in from Elliot Lee's header."