Sunderland links 'irrelevant' for Phil Parkinson ahead of Wrexham clash

Sunderland will meet some familiar faces when they travel to Philadelphia to take on Championship club Wrexham in the final game of their mini tour of the United States on Sunday.

The Welsh outfit have enjoyed a remarkable rise up the football food chain in recent seasons as the investment from Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have catapulted them from National League to the brink of the Premier League over the last five and a half years. Former Black Cats manager Phil Parkinson has been one of the masterminds behind that rise after he oversaw three consecutive promotions and guided the Dragons to within touching distance of the Championship play-offs during their first season in the second tier since 1982.

Sign up for the Echo’s free football newsletter to follow the action from the Stadium of Light and beyond

Parkinson and assistant manager Steve Parkin spent just over a year in charge at the Stadium of Light during a Covid-19 impacted 2019/20 season before departing in November 2020 following a draw at Fleetwood Town that left the Black Cats languishing in eighth place in the League One table. Since then, both Parkinson and Sunderland have enjoyed a remarkable upturn in fortunes and will head into the new season full of positivity.

The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.

Wrexham have already faced Leeds United and Liverpool during their own time in the United States - and the former Black Cats boss has insisted his Sunderland links are ‘kind of irrelevant’ ahead of Sunday’s meeting with his old club (KO 5pm UK-time).

"I think they've all got a special feel to it really," Parkinson said ahead of the trio of games earlier this month. “It's quite amazing, really, when you think we've never met Leeds United in a competitive game. It's a brilliant club. Obviously going to New York to play Liverpool, an iconic stage and it's going to be something special. "Then going to Philadelphia, a stadium we've been to before and a really good arena for football and playing against Sunderland. Obviously, me and Steve [Parkin] were there for a short period, but that's kind of irrelevant really. It's going to Rob's hometown and putting on a show for him and his family as well."

Your next Sunderland read: Sunderland transfer news live blog: Tommy Watson in demand plus update on future of defender