Liberato Cacace (Wrexham | Wales)

Libby doesn't take the field as Wrexham draw 2-2 with Middlesborough and miss the PL playoffs. 

Which ultimately means he'll come into the AW's squad having not played any minutes of football for club or country since Feb 7. 

I do wonder how much of a part he will play in the WC, likely sharing minutes at LB with Old.

Libby an unused sub in a 2-2 draw. Was 2-2 at HT.
Sadly Wrexham miss the playoffs, as Hull beat Norwich 2-1 and overtake them into 6th.

No promotion for Wrexham this season. Need to get some football games for Libby to play somehow.

They were unlucky too. McBurnie certainly looked offside for Hull's winner, and Norwich also denied a late penalty after a rash challenge from a Hull defender. Crazy final day, Wrexham, Derby and Hull all spending time in the top six.

On the Unused Subs this week. From 19 mins in.

Disappointed he couldn't be in Welly, to be unveiled as a new signing at the ROF, when Wrexham toured downunder.

Wrexham weather similar to the 04.

Compared to the sometimes more tactical/chess like Serie A, the Championship is "just relentless". End to end running esp for full backs. It's almost the fittest team wins. And that difference may have contributed to his injuries this season.

Will be doing everything to make sure he is fit for the WC. A season of getting to know his body more, and learning to be patient managing injuries.

His sister & GF both live in London.

The AWs players in the UK are close knit, lots of competitive banter in the WhatsApp group. Big ups to what Eli has achieved at Motherwell.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360986571/world-cup-boost-liberato-cacace-after-tough-first-season-hollywood-backed-wrexham

Cacace hasn't taken the field since February 7 – almost four months ago – but after arriving in Florida early for his first All Whites camp in almost a year, he is fit and raring to go for their first warm-up match against Haiti in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday (kickoff 12pm Wednesday NZ time).

Sorry but you cant expect someone who has had zero playing minutes in the last 4 months to have much impact.
This is the WC. There is nowhere to hide someone who is not match fit. Unfortunately I think Libby will be lucky to get a couple of cameos at the end of matches.

It's far from ideal, but when fit he's one of our top 3 players. Maybe 2nd only to Wood.

FDV is also coming back from injury and looked very sluggish in his cameos for Auckland in the ALM finals. There's no way he starts ahead of Cacace at the WC.

Now you have Old under a hammy injury cloud, and late to arrive in camp. Libby should get big minutes against both Haiti and England. That likely is enough to have him as the best starting option against Iran.

It’s a bit frustrating how hampered the conditioning for some of our better players has been of late.

Guess we should be grateful though that Wood is playing.

Also frustrating that 3 games and if we do as expected or par we don’t have any more high level competitive games for 4 years. And that we’ll not have a chance to fill up the RoF for a playoff any time soon.

And with the Confed Cup gone it’s not even like it’s a much better deal than for previous generations. They got 3 meaningful cup games, plus a home leg playoff. 

Still hope the conditioning holds and we put up a reasonable display at the least. 

Touch wood, we are very fortunate that the AWs arrive in the US with only Oli Sail ruled out. The Socceroos lost Riley McGree last week, and that's considered a major blow for them. The Egyptians have picked a defender who hasn't played for his French club Nice in over a year.
17 of the Iranian sqiuad have had no club football in 3 months.

Off the Cacace topic but there is talk of expanding CONCACAF's 2027 Gold Cup from 16 to 24 teams. Saudi Arabia were an invitation side in 2025 and will be again next year.

NZF should be reaching out to CONCACAF and saying hell yes we are keen.
Someone in the Insta thread below suggests they invite in Greenland!

8 weeks ago. https://www.instagram.com/p/DWsYC4MjUih/
Within Concacaf, discussions have been held about expanding the 2027 Gold Cup to 24 teams 👀
Saudi Arabia is also expected to participate again thanks to PIF sponsorship 💰
Via: ConcacafEdgar
This could open the door for teams from other confederations

Wrexham posted the Libby and Scottish team mate Dom Hyam were back from the world cup.  Wonder if they'll get any minutes against Manchester United on Saturday night?

Pre season. Wrexham play Man U in Helsinki.
https://us.soccerway.com/game/manchester-united-ppjDR086/wrexham-IgO7K1ZA/?mid=hCFE6DEk

Big year. You have to wonder if any of his injury time out has been form related.

Not named in the travelling squad to face Manchester United.  Maybe he'll be available for the USA games.

Libby is in the squad that has landed in Tampa.  

Wrexham beat Leeds 3-2 at the same venue we played England.  Libby on in the second half.

Niche Cache

Libby Cacace is back in America on tour with Wrexham, playing the full second half of a friendly against Leeds United as he gets reintegrated having missed the first couple friendlies due to his post-WC holidays. Challenge #1 for him is to stay fit. Challenge #2 is to overhaul converted-midfielder George Thomason who did very well in Cacace’s LWB position over the second half of last season and probably enters this season as the incumbent.

Got 30 odd minutes against Liverpool quite promisingly today. Two decent appearances against PL teams. 

In the first one against Leeds he was sitting quite deep compared to how he functioned in Italy, at LWB with 3 at the back. Played some passes along the deck in behind. Perhaps because of the opponents we didn’t see him attack or cross much. Made a good tackle, but had a couple of clearances charged down or blocked too. 

Will watch the Liverpool replay and see how he went there.

Started the final USA tour game against Sunderland.  One commentator thought he was at fault for their goal. 

But also had a chance.  Hopefully they will put the highlights up soon

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Saturday
League Cup. Wrexham travel to Middlesbrough

Not in squad, anyone heard if he’s injured?

From The Athletic: "Parkinson said that Liberato Cacace, who started just eight Championship games in an injury-hit 2025-26, was absent at the Riverside after feeling 'a bit of fatigue in his calves' following last weekend’s 1-0 tour defeat to Sunderland. His absence reinforced the need for more options out wide.

The New Zealand international is not expected to face Wigan Athletic on Monday in a behind-closed-doors friendly designed to put vital minutes in legs before the Championship opener at Cardiff City on August 17. Josh Windass and Ben Sheaf, missing again at Middlesbrough, will also sit out that friendly".

Niche Cache. NC also reckons Libby needs to be fit soon, otherwise a real risk Wrexham will look to sign additional LB cover.

Phil Parkinson: “[Cacace] just had a bit of fatigue in his calves after the game on Sunday. Where we are in the season, we hope it is just that, and we've just got to make sure that we give him plenty of time because he's had a busy summer in the World Cup, come back and done pre-season. We gave him 60 minutes on Sunday and we just want to make sure him, Sheafy, and Windass are right.”

Welsh derby. Wrexham travel to Cardiff

Welsh derby. Wrexham travel to Cardiff

Libby and his fatigued calves, questionable for Cardiff

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/sport/26467123.wrexham-afc-boss-gives-injury-update-ahead-cardiff-match/

No Libby as Wrexham lead 1-0 2nd half

If I were a Wrexham fan, I'd be seriously pissed off with Cacace. Missed most of last season, made a miraculous recovery for the WC, and then not available again. 
Regardless of reason, it doesn't look good (from a fan's point of view)

Also didn't play today...

Overall, Wrexham has been a tough move for Libby. I can’t even imagine the toll it must be having on him. Hopefully better times are ahead.

My gut instinct is he's done with the club. Biding his time until me moves somewhere better... Swansea or Cardiff... (far better places to be then Wrexham).

Weird comment. Libby has said he likes Wrexham. Better weather than Welly apparently! 

Most importantly they are a genuine contender for EPL promotion 

His current injury of calf soreness doesn’t sound serious

Wrexam is one of the most dispised clubs in the football league now. Every side in the Championship and those they will meet in the cups, are gunning for the hollywood big 'eds. That motivation for others will make it hard for Wrexham to reach the promised land.

I do like that Wrexham atleast keep you up to date-ish in injuries.
Released before the game (sorry haven’t figured out how to share links)

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