The window is shut, and I’d say Phil Parkinson played his hand rather well. The complications of financial regulations and squad limits makes constructing a squad a terrific challenge.

If Parkinson entered the Summer with the goals of bringing in high quality players, while allowing those who are not immediately in his plans an opportunity to develop elsewhere, then he succeeded.

Parkinson lined things up rather neatly, and his planning became apparent when his final signing of the window was announced.

The deadline day purchase of Mo Faal, a player tipped by his most recent manager to achieve great things, wasn’t just a smart piece of business. It also rather neatly solved the issue of who we should register for the first half of the season.

Faal is classed, for registration purposes, as an under-21 player, so he doesn’t have to be submitted as part of our squad list.

Therefore, Parkinson neatly side-steps a problem. If Faal had been old enough to be registered, he’d have to leave a senior squad player out of his roster. That would mean they could not appear in the EFL, left with the scant consolation of appearing in the FA Cup and EFL Trophy. As a guide, two players who weren’t registered last September – Bryce Hosannah and Callum McFadzean – and the one who didn’t make the cut in February – Liam McAlinden – were all moved on before the Summer.

The one player to survive being left out was Billy Waters, and the club was open to offers for him.

Now Parkinson can select everyone in his senior squad, should he choose to. However, it’s also within his power to leave a space, should he wish to. He can only draft in free agents, but we were linked to a couple of interesting players in that category during the Summer.

He’s moved some good quality players out on loan, and while many have written off their chances of claiming a spot in Parkinson’s squad upon their return, I wouldn’t be so hasty.

The argument of those who think Jordan Davies, Sam Dalby and Jake Bickerstaff have essentially exited the club for good is perfectly logical. As we move up the divisions and improve our squad window-on-window, players who already have been left out face an uphill struggle to reclaim a spot.

True, but the game is littered with unlikely comebacks. Parkinson definitely rates all three players, and I’m certain he will want to see them develop and bang on his door on their return, demanding a chance.

Davies has already written himself into Wrexham folklore; a local lad who has played with great quality and come up with great goals on a regular basis. Injuries have hampered him badly, but if he can regain the form he showed three seasons ago, when he hit 21 goals and made 11 assists, it’ll be difficult to ignore him.

His start with Grimsby has been mixed. He’s made a terrific start on the pitch, suggesting he could return similar figures again, only to break down with an injury. Let’s hope he can return swiftly and continue to send Parkinson a message.

Dalby is in a similar boat. Already involved in our first three games of the season, Parkinson clearly wouldn’t have had any problem with naming him in his squad if the Faal deal hadn’t gone through.

His spell at Dundee United is a massive opportunity. If he can make an impact in a top tier league like that, Wrexham wouldn’t just be looking to add him to our squad; we’d be fighting off transfer offers.

He made his debut last weekend against Hearts, coming off the bench with 25 minutes left alongside ex-Red Dragon Louis Moult, to play his part in an excellent away win. Surely being at a club of such stature will provide a massive boost to his confidence and help his development.

Our swift progress up the divisions has been particularly harsh for Jake Bickerstaff. Max Cleworth has shown that Parkinson will reward youth players, but Bickerstaff has found himself in the most competitive area of the squad, limiting that crucial opportunity to get onto the pitch and accelerate his development.

Parkinson rates Bickerstaff as a good finisher, and his energy when called upon has impressed. Let’s not forget the important job he did at the start of last season, when Paul Mullin was out.

However, as he improves, so does our league status. That means Parkinson has to look for strikers he knows will deliver at a higher level, making a gamble on a young talent less likely. It would be terrific to see him have an explosive goalscoring season to ensure Parkinson gives him his head in the future.

Wouldn’t it be great if the EFL decided that all home grown players are exempt from registration? That would guarantee Bickerstaff remained in contention, and encourage teams to give opportunities to their academy graduates. Hopefully he’ll show the sort of quality Altrincham must have noticed two seasons ago when he led the line superbly, scoring both goals in an FA Trophy tie at Moss Lane.

With the money to bring in new players if required, it’s difficult to see a way in which Billy Waters will push himself back into contention at the SToK Cae Ras. You should never say never in football, and Waters is a diligent player with a solid record.

However, returning to North Wales and getting past Mullin, Ollie Palmer, Steven Fletcher, Jack Marriott and Faal to claim a starting place is hard to imagine, especially when you remember that Dalby and Bickerstaff will be ahead of him on their return, and we’ve used Elliot Lee and James McClean up front too! That’s quite a broad choice of striking options!

We’re in a strong position, equal top of the table with many of our new signings still box-fresh and waiting for a chance to show they can improve the team. With talented players out on loan, developing so they can push themselves back into contention, Parkinson’s ability to build quality and competition into his squad over the Summer should be applauded.