Joe Worrall Seeks Fresh Start at Wrexham After Burnley Exit

Joe Worrall says his deadline-day move from Burnley to Wrexham has given him a chance to prove he can still play a major role in a promotion campaign. The 29-year-old defender is preparing for an immediate reunion with his former club when Burnley visit the Racecourse on Tuesday, according to BBC Sport.

Watch the highlights:

Worrall made 27 appearances during two years at Burnley but started only eight league matches. He said injuries disrupted his attempt to establish himself during the club's 2025 promotion campaign, leaving him in a supporting role. After Burnley returned to the Premier League, he remained frustrated by his limited involvement under Scott Parker.

The centre-back believes he could have contributed more at the highest level, pointing to his previous Premier League experience with Nottingham Forest. He told BBC Sport that opportunities at Burnley had been scarce and that he felt he performed when selected, while acknowledging that he was not consistently in the manager's plans.

Now at Wrexham, Worrall has set his sights on helping a club that missed out on the play-offs on the final day of last season. He said Wrexham's foundations, mentality and togetherness made the club capable of challenging for promotion, whether that breakthrough comes this season or later. His immediate task is to earn a place in Phil Parkinson's team.

That may require patience. Worrall watched from the bench as Wrexham kept consecutive clean sheets in a 3-0 victory at Millwall and a goalless draw at Swansea. Parkinson nevertheless praised the new signing's personality and early influence within the group. The manager said Worrall's knowledge of Burnley's squad could also be useful as Wrexham seek their first home win of the season.

Burnley arrive without a win this season and near the bottom of the Championship following relegation, although Worrall said his former club has enough quality to improve. Their squad now includes former Leicester City and England striker Jamie Vardy, who joined as a free agent after leaving Cremonese. Parkinson said Wrexham respect Burnley's quality but will concentrate on reaching their own performance level in a division where matches are often decided by narrow margins.