Wrexham take on Reading in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night, and Sam Smith will be desperate to start against his former club.
Wrexham beat Norwich City 3-2 on Saturday afternoon, coming from behind to secure an impressive win at Carrow Road.
Phil Parkinson made big decisions to secure that Wrexham victory, and will have enjoyed claiming all three points on the road.
The games are coming thick and fast, though, and Wrexham host Reading in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, meaning Parkinson has been given little time to enjoy Saturday’s win.
Sam Smith will hope to kickstart his Wrexham season
Parkinson will surely rotate his Wrexham side against Reading, bringing in players who need minutes.
Unused substitutes against Norwich will be right in contention for starts, and striker Sam Smith fits that bill perfectly.
Smith hasn’t started a single Championship game this season, but he has been brought off the bench in five out of six games.
Smith went under the knife over the summer, as a benign tumour in his leg was removed.
A slow start to the season was to be expected, but we want to see Smith shining again after a brilliant end to last season.
Smith joined Wrexham in January and finished with seven goals in 18 appearances, proving to be the key man in winning promotion from League One.
Who can forget Smith dazzling Ryan Reynolds with an acrobatic goal to really get the promotion party started against Charlton Athletic?
Wrexham splashed the cash on 13 signings over the summer, and perhaps Smith has flown under the radar a little amid so many new faces and a tricky pre-season for the striker.
Smith did score against West Bromwich Albion, but he is still waiting for the big moment to kickstart his season.
The quality is certainly there with Smith, and we have no doubt that the goals will flow – if he receives chances to shine in Wrexham’s attack.
Sam Smith could feature against former club Reading
There may be no better time for Smith to feature than on Tuesday night against Reading.
Smith has a strong emotional connection to Reading, having first joined the club from Manchester United in 2014.
Smith struggled for first-team chances in his first spell with the Royals, but returned in 2023 after honing his craft at Cambridge United.
The 27-year-old smashed 27 goals in 63 games for Reading before being sold to Wrexham amid financial troubles for the Royals.
Reading know all about Smith’s quality in front of goal, and the Wrexham man could gain some confidence and momentum by putting his former club to the sword on Tuesday night.