- Defender stepped out of academy ranks
- Now an established senior performer
- Expected to take more steps up in class
WHAT HAPPENED?
At just 21 years of age, cultured centre-half Cleworth is considered to be the hottest of prospects. He is already closing in on 100 appearances for the Red Dragons, having stepped out of their academy system in style.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The youngster was a regular under Phil Parkinson in 2023-24, allowing him to take in back-to-back promotions and a post-season trip to Las Vegas that he is now old enough to have enjoyed to the full. Wrexham are being urged to invest more in finding more home-grown stars such as Cleworth.
WHAT FOWLER SAID
Emotional ties to the Welsh outfit should see him stick around for the foreseeable future, but Lee Fowler has warned that interest from afar will be shown at some stage. The former Wrexham captain has told The Leader of Cleworth: “I think he’s got to the stage now where he’s ready to play in the Championship. He’s ticking off promotions and his value’s only going to grow. If there’s Championship teams or a Premiership team looking at him, the next season will be a pivotal one for Max.”
WHAT NEXT?
The presence of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney is helping to keep star turns at SToK Racecourse, as they draw up the most ambitious of plans, and Wrexham’s co-owners have made no secret of the fact that they intend to make the Red Dragons a top-flight outfit at some stage.