DEFENDER Marvin Andrews is the latest Wrexham player to have his short-term contract extended to the end of the season, following last week’s confirmation of a similar deal for Adrian Cieslewicz.
But Dragons’ boss Dean Saunders has yet to decide whether Marc Williams, currently on loan at Kidderminster Harriers, will be retained when his current deal runs out at the end of December.
The 22-year-old striker, who came to prominence with 13 goals in 22 league appearances two years ago, has since seen his progress blighted by injury. Out of contract last summer, the former Wales under-21 international accepted a six-month deal at the Racecourse before his temporary move to Aggborough where he scored on his debut in August.
Of his 14 appearances to date for Harriers Williams has started only four games, scoring one additional goal.
Yesterday Saunders said: “We’ll discuss the Marc Williams situation as a staff. I’m trying to see how it develops down there (Kidderminster), but Marc has not been starting enough games for them.
“I had hoped he would get into the team and bang in goals for them.”
Andrews, however, has earned his extended deal after playing in all but five games so far this season and has one goal to his credit.
“I think he has done well for us,” added the Racecourse boss. “Obviously he can’t play like Rio Ferdinand but he is very experienced, he wins plenty of headers in defence and he is a great character to have around the place.”
Saunders is hoping Andrews in particular will have benefited from Wrexham’s enforced break – nearly a fortnight between the 1-1 draw at Histon and this Thursday’s Racecourse date with Luton Town – revealing that the 34-year-old centre-back has trained very little between matches during the opening three months of the season.
“Marvin has been playing with a bit of tendinitis which leaves him feeling sore after matches,” he said. “That’s cut down the time we can work on defensive things in training.
“So while it’s been a bit awkward to arrange training because there hasn’t been a game, players have had the opportunity for a complete rest.”
Polish front-runner Cieslewicz has recovered from a slight hamstring strain and defender Frank Sinclair, who dislocated a finger last time out, should also be fit to face the Hatters in a game being televised live.
The following Sunday, Wrexham visit York City but Saunders, in acknowledging that both games promise to be stiff tests, is taking them one at a time.
“I’m simply concentrating on the Luton game at the moment,” he said. “It’s going to be a hard game against a team that was nearly promoted last year. I saw their play-off game with York and they hit the post three times, but it wasn’t their day.
“They will be there or thereabouts again this season, but a repeat of what happened here last year (Wrexham won 3-0) would be nice.”