Wrexham star Paul Mullin has suffered an injury that will keep him out of pre-season and is in danger of missing the start of the 2024/25 League One campaign.
Pre-season preparations are well underway at Wrexham, with new arrivals at the Racecourse and the first team squad being put through their paces on their return to training.
However, managerPhil Parkinson has suffered an injury blow to his squad with key man Paul Mullin set to miss pre-season and likely the early weeks of of the forthcoming League One campaign.
The Welsh club announced Mullin underwent surgery in June to fix lower back and hamstring issues.
Mullin is a vital part of the Red Dragons’ side with the former Cambridge United striker scoring 24 goals League Two goals last year.
In the striker’s absence, Parkinson will be looking to his other strikers to step up to fill the void.
The manager has many options with Ollie Palmer, Steven Fletcher, Jack Marriot, and Sam Dalby ready to challenge for a starting role.
It remains to be seen if Wrexham will target a forward signing to ease Mullin’s absence, but it is a great chance for the strikers already at the manager’s disposal to stake their claim to be the main man upfront.
Ollie Palmer to step up as the main goal threat
Since arriving in 2022, in a club record £300,000 deal from AFC Wimbledon, Palmer has been a great asset to Parkinson’s side. The former Wimbledon star has scored 39 goals in 105 appearances for the Red Dragons.
The six-foot-five Palmer has created a great strike partnership with Mullin. During their time at the Racecourse, they have provided the perfect balance upfront, with a target man who can hold the ball up and play it off for a smaller forward who can run through the channels and aggressively press defensive lines.
However, the towering forward only managed seven League Two goals last campaign.
The latest injury blow to his strike partner offers Palmer a chance to prove he can be the main goal threat in the Wrexham side and improve on his goal tally from last year.
Can Palmer earn a new contract?
Palmer is one of the more senior members of the squad with the 32-year-old bringing great EFL experience to the side.
With the quality expected to rise next season, though, it will be a big test for the Wrexham star.
The No.9 will be hoping he can improve on his relatively low-scoring campaign last year to prove he can step up and progress with the squad.
Palmer’s contract expires in 2025. Mullin’s injury gives him a good chance to show he deserves another deal and prove he can compete at a higher level.
It will be interesting to see if a new signing arrives at the Racecourse and what Palmer’s future at the end of the season will look like.
Regardless of new arrivals, he will be hoping he can return to his previously impressive goal-scoring record in a Wrexham shirt next season.
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