Matty James is the latest signing for ambitious League One side Wrexham – thanks to some help from Leicester City.
Midfielder James, a free agent after being released by Bristol City in the summer, had been training at City’s Seagrave headquarters to keep himself fit as he looked for a new club. While linked to a return to Coventry, he has instead headed to Wales, signing a short-term deal with Wrexham.
Seeking a third straight promotion, the Hollywood-backed Dragons are third in League One at the moment. But with a spate of injuries suffered, they’ve delved into the free transfer market.
James, 33, had an injury-hit decade at the King Power Stadium, but was integral in their rise out of the Championship and their initial stay in the Premier League. In recent years, he’s been able to keep fit and played 43 times for Bristol City last term.
An unused substitute in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Charlton, James went straight into the matchday squad. He is thankful for City for helping maintain his fitness levels and hopes that will allow him to make a quick impact at Wrexham.
“It feels great to be given the opportunity to play again and to join a club that’s moving in a direction that everybody’s watching,” James said. “I’m over the moon, and can’t wait to get started.
“It was a weird process for me, not being in a routine. I was training at Leicester, which I’m thankful for, but to be back inside a men’s environment here with the lads – they’re a fantastic bunch of lads and I’ve loved every minute so far.
“I want to enjoy playing football again, to try to help – be around the group, and whatever the gaffer wants me to do, I’ll do. I want to build up in terms of fitness and game time – and there’s a lot of games coming up, so I want to earn some minutes and move forward from there.”
Wrexham’s journey up the leagues has attracted plenty of attention with the club now under the stewardship of actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Earlier this month, Rotherham boss Steve Evans compared the impact they’ve had in the Welsh city to the work undertaken by King Power in Leicester.
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