Sheaf back for Wrexham after seven months out with injuries

The midfielder made his first start since February in a 2-1 home win over Southampton and said the mental side of recovery was the hardest part.

Ben Sheaf made his first start of the season for Wrexham in a 2-1 win against Southampton at the Racecourse Ground, his first beginning of a match since February. The 28-year-old had been kept out by shoulder, calf and knee problems. He lasted 65 minutes before Matty James came on in his place.

The Kent-born midfielder, who began his career at Arsenal and previously played for Coventry City, said the occasion stirred strong feelings. He noted that his only prior action was a brief substitute appearance against Middlesbrough in the final game of last season, and that roughly seven months had passed since he last played a full match.

Sheaf described recovery as harder mentally than physically, explaining that he needed competitive minutes to trust his body again. Kieffer Moore headed Wrexham in front before James Ward-Prowse equalized for Southampton, and Keven Schlotterbeck's 89th-minute own goal settled it for Phil Parkinson's side, their first home win of the campaign after a 6-0 defeat at West Ham earlier in September.

Sheaf added that the team had felt pressure since that loss and showed strong character despite not being at their best going forward. He plans to use the upcoming three-week international break as a mini pre-season and expects several more games before he reaches full sharpness.