Harambee Stars eligible defender Zak Vyner features as Wrexham defeat Southampton

Harambee Stars-eligible defender Zak Vyner featured for Wrexham AFC as the Welsh side returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Southampton in an entertaining English Championship encounter at the Racecourse Ground.

Vyner was named in Phil Parkinson’s starting XI and played the full match as Wrexham secured three valuable points before the international break. His inclusion adds another chapter to the growing list of Kenyan-eligible players competing at a high level in the English game.

Wrexham made a bright start to the contest and created a number of openings during the opening stages, with Callum O’Hare heavily involved in the hosts’ attacking moves. Southampton also threatened, but Wrexham remained organised at the back as both sides searched for the breakthrough.

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The hosts eventually found it 10 minutes before the interval through experienced striker Kieffer Moore. After Ben Whiteman delivered a corner into the box, Moore rose highest and directed his header into the far corner to give Wrexham a deserved lead.

Southampton tried to respond before the break, but Wrexham defended their advantage and went into half-time ahead.

The visitors, however, came out strongly after the restart and levelled the contest just five minutes into the second half. Former England international James Ward-Prowse reacted quickest inside the box and fired into an unguarded net to make it 1-1.

Southampton enjoyed a spell of pressure after the equaliser, with Ward-Prowse coming close to adding another when his curling free-kick forced a good save from Wrexham goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

Wrexham continued to look dangerous on the counter, with Moore going close to restoring their lead when his ambitious effort from distance almost caught goalkeeper Daniel Peretz off guard.

As the match entered its final stages, neither side appeared capable of finding the decisive goal. That changed late in the contest when Jacques Ekomié burst forward down the left before sending a dangerous delivery across the face of goal.

O’Hare got the final touch as the ball was forced over the line, with the goal also involving a Southampton defender, to hand Wrexham a dramatic 2-1 victory.

Vyner remained on the pitch until the final whistle as Wrexham held on for an important win. The result gives Parkinson’s side valuable momentum heading into the international break after their recent 6-0 defeat to West Ham United.

For Vyner, the appearance continues his involvement at Championship level, with the defender remaining eligible to represent Kenya through his family background. The 28-year-old has previously represented England at youth level, but has not been capped by the senior Three Lions, leaving the door open for a potential Harambee Stars switch.

Wrexham will now head into the international break with confidence after claiming all three points against a Southampton side that had threatened to take control of the contest during periods of the second half.

Wrexham AFC starting XI: Anthony Patterson, Callum Doyle, Jacques Ekomié, Zak Vyner,Dominic Hyam, Ben Whiteman, Josh Windass, Issa Kaboré, Callum O’Hare, Ben Sheaf, Kieffer Moore.