{
  "id": 345245,
  "title": "Cleworth to start Wigan friendly on Monday",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/cleworth-to-start-wigan-friendly-on-monday",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-09T04:38:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cleworth-start-wigan-friendly-monday-043832853.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson intends to have his players, including Max Cleworth, ready for the upcoming Championship season by fielding them in an exclusive friendly against League One side Wigan Athletic on Monday. This warm-up match comes after the team's recent 1-0 Carabao Cup first-round loss to Middlesbrough. Cleworth, the 23-year-old centre-back, is among those whose fitness levels have been closely monitored due to an Achilles issue that delayed his preseason progress. Parkinson emphasized that the team will face a strong opponent in a closed-door setting and that players like Cleworth require game time to regain their form. He noted that the Middlesbrough game served as a necessary test, with player minutes already predetermined, but assured that Wrexham will recover and prepare for their Championship opener against Cardiff City on August 17 at 20:00 BST.",
  "summary": "Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson hopes to ensure players such as Max Cleworth are physically ready for the Championship campaign by fielding them in a behind-closed-doors encounter with League One Wigan Athletic on Monday. Parkinson has been managing his squad's readiness for what lies ahead, with centre-back Cleworth, 23, among those to have their fitness levels closely monitored.",
  "key_points": [
    "Wrexham to play Wigan Athletic in friendly on Monday.",
    "Max Cleworth, 23, center-back among fit players.",
    "Championship opener against Cardiff City on August 17."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The inclusion of Max Cleworth in Monday's friendly against Wigan suggests that his recovery from an Achilles issue is on track and he is being eased back into competitive action.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}