Super Eagles goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo returned to action for Wrexham as the Welsh club concluded their pre-season tour of the United States with a narrow defeat to Sunderland at Subaru Park in Philadelphia.
Speculation over Okonkwo's future intensified this past week after the Hale End Academy graduate was left out of Wrexham's matchday squad for the friendly against Liverpool.
Reports claimed he was on the verge of leaving the Red Dragons, but those rumours ultimately proved to be unfounded.
Okonkwo played the full 90 minutes as Wrexham suffered a 1-0 defeat to the Black Cats, with Nordi Mukiele's 34th-minute strike proving decisive.
The Nigerian goalkeeper made a couple of sharp saves to keep Wrexham in contention, including an instinctive stop after a deflection, before venturing forward for a late corner as the Championship side searched for an equaliser.
If Wrexham's pre-season is any indication, the Nigeria international appears firmly in manager Phil Parkinson's plans for the upcoming season.
He started three of Wrexham's five pre-season matches and also featured as a substitute against Wisła Kraków.
Okonkwo has entered the final year of his contract with Wrexham.
He initially joined the club on loan from Arsenal in 2023 before making the move permanent the following season.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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