Wrexham have finally made a decision on the future of Sam Dalby as he marked his Dundee United stay in style on Sunday.
There is now just one week of the January transfer window left to go and Wrexham still have some work to do.
Ryan Longman has joined Wrexham with the utility man becoming Phil Parkinson’s first signing of the window.
The 24-year-old arrives from Hull City in a deal worth around £500,000.
Wrexham will be delighted with that deal but Parkinson would no doubt love more business before the window shuts.
Reports suggest that Wrexham want a striker and Parkinson’s decision over Sam Dalby suggests that pursuit remains a priority.
Sam Dalby scores again for Dundee United
Wrexham allowed striker Dalby to leave the club on deadline day back in August.
Dalby completed a late loan move to Dundee United with Parkinson seemingly feeling that he was down the pecking order.
The former Leeds United talent scored just once for Wrexham in League Two last season but has been on fire in Scotland.
Dalby scored against Rangers on Sunday, taking his tally for the season to 11 goals in 23 games for Dundee United.
The Wrexham-owned forward is the top scorer in the Scottish Premiership this season and shows no sign of slowing down.
Wrexham could have recalled Dalby this month but confirmed on Friday that he will be staying at Tannadice until the end of the season.
Wrexham have though offered Dalby a new contract, seemingly holding out some hope of him staying at the STōK Cae Ras.
We can’t see that happening with Dalby’s stock at an all-time high right now and risking being back on the Wrexham bench just doesn’t seem likely.
Scouts watching Sunday’s game would have been impressed; Dalby’s predatory instincts were on show as he buried a fine finish into the Rangers net.
Dundee United lost 3-1 in the end but Dalby was on the scoresheet once again just days after Wrexham decided not to recall him.
BBC pundit praises Sam Dalby
Wrexham will hope that any potential incoming striker can have the kind of impact Dalby has enjoyed at Dundee United.
We still think that Parkinson has made the right decision in not recalling Dalby, but Wrexham do need to find another goalscorer.
Dalby’s performance on Sunday caught the eye though with former Scotland boss and current pundit Craig Levein sharing praise.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Levein suggested that Dalby is simply ‘ideal’ to play in a 4-4-2 setup.
Levein added that Dalby seemed to be winning most of his aerial duels against the Rangers back line, causing real problems in the air.
“Sam Dalby is ideal for an old-fashioned 4-4-2. I think he only lost one header in the first half,” said Levein.
Wrexham don’t play a 4-4-2 but do still play with two strikers in Phil Parkinson’s 3-5-2 setup.
Dalby may yet have a future in that setup at Wrexham, but we would expect him to bet on himself and end a big move at the end of the season having impressed so much for Dundee United.