Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have exactly what they wanted as Wrexham face Manchester United

Wrexham will have United on their shirts and United as the opposition in a Stateside friendly that epitomises the rise of the club under Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

The Welsh outfit take on Manchester United in a friendly in the early hours of Wednesday morning UK time (3.30am) and while it will be Reds' shadow side, the game has Wrexham front and centre.

United remain one of the biggest clubs in world football and, a few days on from a friendly against Chelsea, the League Two newcomers will enjoy a big crowd, increased coverage and greater engagement simply by playing Erik ten Hag's Premier League giants. Wrexham are popular themselves in the States since the Hollywood pair took over and have their own US appeal and fanbase.

The club, promoted out of the National League in dramatic fashion last term, have exploded into the national psyche in recent months and years with Reynolds and McElhenney firmly putting the team and the town on the map. The behind the scenes documentary Welcome to Wrexham is returning to Disney Plus for a second season later this year and the club's following is rapidly expanding.

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Supporters from the States travelled to North Wales in their droves for games this season and major businesses are joining as sponsors, such as United Airlines who don their front of this season's shirts.

It's a sea change from campaign after campaign drifting in the fifth tier. And the Premier League is the ultimate aim of Reynolds and McElhenney. When they decided to invest in Wrexham, it's occasions like this week's match-up with United that would have been precisely what they wanted - marrying the fanbase