Vyner braced for eye-opening Wrexham popularity in US

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reported that Wrexham defender Zak Vyner is anticipating a revealing first experience of the club’s following in the United States as the Championship side begins a three-match pre-season tour. Vyner said he has so far mainly sensed American support through social media, including the response after he signed, and expects the trip to show him the scale of Wrexham’s overseas profile in person.

Wrexham have already played pre-season fixtures against Wisla Krakow in Poland and Manchester United in Finland. Their US schedule includes Leeds in Tampa on 26 July, Liverpool in New York four days later, and Sunderland in Philadelphia on 2 August, according to the BBC report. The club’s previous American tours drew large attendances, helped by the international attention generated under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and the “Welcome to Wrexham” documentary series.

Vyner, 29, joined Wrexham from Bristol City for an undisclosed fee during the January transfer window, after coming through the Bristol City academy and spending time on loan at Accrington Stanley, Aberdeen, Plymouth Argyle and Rotherham United. His early spell at Wrexham was disrupted by a toe injury on arrival, a stint in central midfield, and then a groin problem that kept him out of the final five matches of the season.

The defender told BBC Sport he feels fit and wants to use the tour to gain minutes and compete for a place. Wrexham are preparing for another Championship campaign, making the tour both a commercial showcase and a key part of squad preparation.