Wrexham face Middlesbrough days after US tour with barely a training session

Wrexham kicked off their Carabao Cup first-round tie at Middlesbrough on 7 August, days after returning from a pre-season tour spanning Helsinki, Tampa, and New York. Manager Phil Parkinson said the squad prioritised recovery over training in the buildup. The tour featured wins over Manchester United and Leeds plus a 1-0 loss to Liverpool at Yankee Stadium.