The centre-back has been ruled out for the last three matches with a recurrence of a groin strain sustained in the 4-1 victory at Salisbury.

Brown only lasted eight minutes of his comeback at Salisbury having originally picked up the problem in just the second match of the season against York City.

Although he would like to face Grays at the weekend, Brown insists he won't rush his comeback and may instead be in line to face Rushden and Diamonds next Tuesday at The Racecourse.

"If everything goes well and the gaffer, the physio, and myself, feel I am right, I could feature on Saturday," said Brown. "I am eager to be back in there.

"The manager asks me how I am every day and that is good to hear.

"But I have got to be careful. We have got a game on Saturday and Tuesday and I don't want to risk myself for Saturday and then not be able to play on Tuesday. I will take it slowly and come back a lot stronger.

"It was disappointing to break down twice after coming back.

"I have been out a lot longer this time so when I do come back, hopefully it doesn't go again."

Brown, who began the season in the centre of defence before switching to a midfield role in his ill-fated comeback against Sailsbury, has been frustrated sitting on the sidelines for the majority of the season.

With Wrexham up to eighth after beating Ebbsfleet United on Saturday, Brown hopes to play his part in guiding the Reds to at least a play-off berth this season.

"It will be great back playing again," added Brown. "I wanted to have some good, solid performances right until the end of the season, and show consistency to myself, the manager and the fans.

"It is disappointing to be sitting on the sidelines. It is good to see the lads winning but you get angry when we've lost.

"It is a big blow being injured and I want to be part of it.

"I want Wrexham to be back in the top five, and we have got the players and a good manager capable of doing it.

"If we can get the consistency right you never know what can happen."

Manager Brian Little is hoping to have Brown available for a possible fourth appearance of the season at Grays, and said: "Nat has been working very hard with Mel Pejic and seems to be doing virtually everything asked of him," said Little.

"We will have to see if and when Nat can join in with the group, but it would be nice if he can."

Little will be hoping another centre-back, Darran Kempson, does not give him another possible headache after going away on international duty.

Kempson has joined up with the England C squad that plays Bosnia and Herzegovinia in a friendly in Sarajevo tonight and Little hopes the defender – an ever-present this season for Wrexham – returns unscathed.

"Obviously I am pleased for Darran," said Little. "It is a good education for people but I just hope he comes home in one piece."

But left-back Carl Tremarco has opted not to join up with Paul Fairclough's squad for the friendly, which is being played at under 23 level, because his partner is due to give birth any day.

Little is also hoping leading scorer Jefferson Louis, with seven goals to his name this term, proves his fitness ahead of the trip to Grays on Saturday after he was taken off with a hamstring problem in the weekend win against Ebbsfleet.

"Jeff was a bit sore at half-time but once he scored the second we wanted to rest him to give him more chance of being 100 per cent this weekend so we will monitor him this week," added Little.

Right-sided Kyle Critchell is still a few weeks away from a return.

Ask Brian

If you have a question for Brian Little email it to digitalnews@nwn.co.uk and we'll ask as many as we can during our next video interview with the Reds boss this Thursday.