Parkinson unconcerned by Middlesbrough team selection

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Phil Parkinson says he is not concerned by Middlesbrough's approach to Saturday's crucial fixture with his Wrexham side at Stok Cae Ras on Saturday (12:30 BST), amid talk the visitors could potentially rest players.

Boro's slim automatic promotion hopes were kept alive on Tuesday night as Southampton drew 2-2 with Ipswich Town.

To finish second Kim Hellberg's side need to beat the Red Dragons and also hope both Ipswich lose to Queens Park Rangers and Millwall fail to beat relegated Oxford United on the final weekend of the regular season.

Opta's data model gives Boro just a 2.2% chance of clinching a place in the top two, while they are already guaranteed a place in the play-offs at the very least.

It has led to some suggesting Hellberg could name a weakened team against Wrexham in a bid to keep his side fresh for a likely play-off campaign.

Discussing Boro, Parkinson said: "They're a good side, like any team which is up there at this stage.

"Similar to when we played them [in October] really, even though it was a different manager. They've got some key players, they've had some different results in the last 10 games, particularly defeats at home.

"But the dream's still alive for them. Obviously, they need other results to go their way."

Middlesbrough's hopes of automatic promotion would already have been over had Ipswich got more than the single point they collected at Southampton in midweek.

"People have been speaking a lot about, if Ipswich won, would it mean Middlesbrough played a weakened team? That doesn't bother me, to be honest with you.

"You can't predict the mindset of the opposition or manager or the team on the day, we've just got to focus on ourselves and we have done this week and we'll be ready."

Middlesbrough head to north Wales having earned back-to-back victories against bottom side Sheffield Wednesday and Watford - although those triumphs followed a seven-game winless run.

Nevertheless, Wrexham midfielder Matty James feels Boro deserve huge praise for still being in the mix for automatic promotion with one game left to play this season.

"I think Middlesbrough have done excellent throughout the whole season," said James.