PARKY JOY AT KEEPING OKONKWO

BLACKBURN v WREXHAM

FA Cup 4th Rnd: Monday, 7.30pm

PHIL PARKINSON confessed his relief that Wrexham’s FA Cup adventure can continue at Blackburn with Arsenal loanee Arthur Okonkwo.

There had been fears the Gunners would cut short the keeper’s (above) North Wales loan spell, leaving manager Parkinson with a headache.

But he revealed: “The deadline for Arthur to be called back was January 21. That has now passed. It’s a massive signing for us to keep him. He has been exceptional for us.

“He’s a great lad and has brought into everything the club is about. When someone plays well you always worry he has caught the eye of other teams. I was very pleased when the clock struck midnight.

“It’s a great stage for Arthur to play on, with the expectancy of everyone here at Wrexham playing in front of packed houses every week.

“Arsenal understand it’s a great place for him to be. In the window everyone looks to who are we going to bring in? What signings are we going to make?

“Elliot Lee and Paul Mullin have signed new contracts and we’ve kept Arthur. That’s a very good window for us.

“If we make an addition or two, that will be a bonus. Sometimes it’s about keeping what you have got.”

Wrexham beat Coventry on a run to the fourth round last season and were just seconds away from knocking out Sheffield United, only for the Blades to recover and win the replay.

Parkinson (above) added: “We have to remember how hard we fought against Coventry and Sheffield United. We just can’t turn up thinking, ‘Blackburn haven’t been doing so well, so we should do all right’.

“We’ve got to really earn anything we get.”