Elliot Lee has been suffering from an injury which kept him out of the starting lineup as Wrexham took on Blackpool in League One.
Lee suffered an injury vs Bristol Rovers, which meant he was forced off after just 36 minutes and replaced by Paul Mullin in the 1-1 draw against The Pirates.
Parkinson then provided an injury update on Lee which confirmed he’d be given a rest on boxing day, with Wrexham’s top goalscorer not being risked against the Tangerines.
Instead, Phil Parkinson started Mullin. This decision paid off against Steve Bruce’s side.
Paul Mullin hasn’t started for Wrexham in 47 days, but it paid off
The decision to include Mullin in the starting XI was 47 days in the making, with the English forward not included since November 11th 2024 when the Red Dragons took on Gillingham, in a game which ended 2-0. A win also occurred on Boxing Day.
Mullin got the equaliser against Blackpool, and it was an absolute corker. A looping volley that left the Blackpool keeper with no chance.
Then a Steven Fletcher penalty secured the win – meaning the decision, although a necessity, to exile Lee and start Mullin was one that well and truly paid off for Parkinson.
Decision to start Mullin was justified with Elliot Lee injury
Mullin hasn’t exactly been his prolific self in front of goal this season, but the decision to start him over Lee would’ve been justified either way.
It would have been silly to start Lee and potentially risk an injury, as Parkinson highlighted before the match even kicked off.
He spoke to Wrexham club media and said: “Yeah it’s only a minor injury, we had a scan straight away, and it’s not going to keep him out for long but we felt today was too much for him and it wasn’t worth the risk with the games we’ve got coming up.
“Obviously Mulls did well when he came on last week, and we’re looking for a continuation on that.”
As Wrexham’s Christmas schedule comes thick and fast, they face Wigan Athletic in just three days’ time. Whether Lee or Mullin, or both, start in that is entirely up to Parkinson. But what a nice dilemma to have.