Joe Worrall says he joined Wrexham to prove a Premier League point to himself – and former club Burnley.
The 29-year-old comes face-to-face again with former team-mates on Tuesday (19:45 BST), as Wrexham welcome a Clarets side yet to win this season and struggling at the bottom of the second-tier after relegation last term.
Worrall left Burnley on deadline day having managed just eight league starts in two years at Turf Moor.
Injuries hit his bid to play a bigger role in their promotion from the Championship in 2025, but the centre-back says he was left “extremely frustrated” having not been able to play more in the top-flight under Scott Parker.
“It was a really hard team to get into after the injury. I kind of swallowed it up and played like a bit of a back-seat role in that promotion season,” said Worrall.
“I really enjoyed it because the lads were great, but I knew going into the Premier League I played there before and did pretty well, captaining the side with Forest and staying up.
“I could have helped more last year, but my opportunities were sparse – and I thought I took them when they were given. For whatever reason I was just not in the eye of the manager or the club.”
Worrall said there was “more than meets the eye” regarding team selection at Burnley, and admitted the transition under Nicky Hayen with a group of young players means he has not been surprised by their early-season struggles.
He added the club have the quality to “click and come good”, but stressed his focus is on showing he can still add value to a side aiming for the top.
Worrall skippered hometown club Nottingham Forest to play-off success in 2024 and now wants to avoid injury to show he can play a key role in a third career promotion.
“I think I’ve got something to prove to myself, first and foremost,” said Worrall, who is aiming for a first start after watching two successive clean sheets from the bench.
“But also can I and this club do it? Can we get promoted to the Premier League, whether it be this season, next season, the season after?
“It’s a division I’ve spent a lot of time playing in and it does break your heart. I’ve missed out on goal difference and Wrexham missed out on the last day [of their play-off bid last season], but you bounce back and we’re capable of that and pushing for the top league.
“The club will have learned a lot from last season, but the foundations are extremely strong here.
“It’s always about the mentality and togetherness of a group, and Wrexham have it down to a tee.”
Jamie Vardy’s welcome to Wrexham?
With Wrexham having followed up a 3-0 win at Millwall with Saturday’s goalless draw at Swansea, Worrall expects to have to bide his time for a place in Phil Parkinson’s starting line-up.
In return, the Wrexham manager has hailed Worrall’s early influence, adding that the defender has “been fantastic for us in terms of his personality”, always a key focus point.
After two long away trips, Parkinson revealed his side had adapted their travelling and training schedule, culminating in a longer team meeting on Monday to stress their progress and the challenge of Burnley as the Red Dragons eye a first home win of the season.
It could see Wrexham line-up against Jamie Vardy, the former England and Leicester City striker who has signed for Burnley as a free agent after leaving Italian side Cremonese.
Vardy had been linked with Wrexham, who also landed an attacking option on deadline day in the form of Sheffield United’s Callum O’Hare.
Parkinson said he would have a plan for whatever side Burnley put out while leaning on Worrall’s knowledge of a dressing room he left a week ago.
“The division is very tight and very competitive,” said the Wrexham boss.
“The games are divided by very tight margins. Burnley have got good players and we 100% respect their quality, but it’s about concentrating on our own performance level.”
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