Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham side take on Leeds United in a pre-season friendly in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has served up brilliant Leeds United praise ahead of Sunday morning’s pre-season friendly in the USA but with a Whites warning.

Wrexham have surged up the leagues under the ownership of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny, the Red Dragons now approaching their second season in the Championship after last year’s seventh-placed finish.

The Welsh outfit have already beaten Manchester United in a pre-season friendly in Finland and Parkinson’s side will now face Leeds in the early hours of Sunday morning in Tampa in a rare meeting between the Red Dragons and the Whites.

The two clubs have never locked horns in a competitive fixture - something Parkinson says is quite amazing given their histories - the Wrexham boss saluting United as a brilliant club ahead of their meeting at the Raymond James Stadium.

Parkinson says the game has a “special” feel to it but the Wrexham boss is warning that his side will be definitely be ready to face the Whites fresh from their victory against Manchester United.

Speaking to the North Wales Pioneer, Parkinson said: “When we were in League Two, we had some good games as well, but obviously these games now become even more competitive in terms of us being a Championship club.

"It's quite amazing really when you think that we've never met Leeds in a competitive game.

“We have never played Leeds before and it is a brilliant club”

"I think that's got a nice feel to it. We have never played Leeds before and it is a brilliant club.

"I think all the games have got a special feel to it really.

"The games are really important for us in terms of the the fitness element and the team structure, and we'll be focused on them.

"We know they're all going to be tough matches, but so was the Manchester United game in Finland.

"If you look at the team they picked in the first half, that was a really tough challenge for us, so we're expecting really competitive games and we're going to have to work very hard to be competitive, but that's what pre-season's all about, and we'll be ready for it come Saturday in Tampa."