A total of ten players were part of the Reds' incredible rise from the National League to the Championship and with Ryan Barnett on a season-long loan at MK Dons and the other eight moving on, Cleworth is the last man standing.

Handed his league debut in Parkinson's first competitive game in charge of Wrexham - a 2-2 draw at Solihull Moors in August 2021 - the centre-back has established himself as a key figure under the Reds' boss and has made nearly 200 appearances for the club in all competitions since making his senior bow in 2019.

Parkinson says his progress is the result of years of hard work and he praised the 24-year-old's dedication and development.

"I just think Max is symbolic of what we've achieved, that he's grown with the club as a player," he said about Cleworth, who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in the 1-1 draw at home to Burnley on September 8.

"What people often don't see is all the work that goes on for him to keep stepping up like he has done.

"As a football club and as a team, there's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes.

"The analysts, the medical team, the training and the preparation which has got us to where we are, and Max is the same.

"There's no magic wand which has been waved with Max.

"He has worked hard to make improvements year on, year out, to get to where he is as a player, and that's great.

"Obviously he is injured at the moment but he is an integral part of the squad."