Wrexham have been dealt an enormous blow with midfielder Andy Cannon now set for a lengthy lay-off with a knee injury.
Sunday was a mostly positive day for Wrexham.
The League One promotion battle is heading towards its final stretch and Wrexham really needed to come up with a performance at Mansfield Town.
Wrexham’s home defeat to Leyton Orient was still stinging for many fans but Wycombe Wanderers dropping points last weekend raised hopes again.
Sure enough, Wrexham seized the opportunity with a 2-1 win at Mansfield Town as Max Cleworth again showed his goalscoring ability.
Wrexham cut the gap to Wycombe to just three points with that win, but Phil Parkinson was hit with a significant injury blow ahead of facing Peterborough United in the EFL Trophy.
Andy Cannon facing lengthy absence
In the first half of Sunday’s clash, Wrexham midfielder Andy Cannon went down what looked like a nasty injury.
Cannon had been given a chance in the Wrexham midfield with Elliot Lee not ready to return against Mansfield, but he appeared to be in immediate distress.
Cannon was given oxygen on the pitch and was stretchered off in a hugely worrying moment for Wrexham fans.
Wrexham have now confirmed Cannon’s injury status with the midfielder suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
The average recovery time from such an injury tends to be around nine months to a year, meaning we may not see Cannon’s lung-busting energy in midfield again until 2026.
Wrexham players are rallying around Cannon as he faces a lengthy rehabilitation period, with Parkinson left to weigh up how to replace him.
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Lee’s return would certainly help and Wrexham do have other midfielders in George Dobson, Matty James, George Evans and Ollie Rathbone.
James McClean could even feature in midfield if needed but Cannon provided a goal threat from the engine room and Wrexham may need another forward-thinking midfielder to take his place.
Harry Ashfield was given the nod in that role against Peterborough United on Wednesday night, but Josh Adam wasn’t even on the bench.
We would forgive Wrexham fans for having forgotten all about Adam.
Wrexham signed Adam on a free transfer in September with the youngster released by Manchester City at the end of last season.
Previously highly-regarded at Celtic, Adam penned a one-year deal at Wrexham with the option of a second year.
Adam has yet to make a single league appearance for Wrexham though and his only two first-team games came in the EFL Trophy.
Phil Parkinson praised Adam after his debut against Port Vale and handed him another start against Crewe Alexandra just a month later.
Yet when Wrexham went on to play Port Vale, Bolton Wanderers and Peterborough United in later stages of the competition, Adam has completely left out – not even on the bench.
Adam is ultimately playing for a contract extension at Wrexham but Ashfield now appears to be ahead of him in the midfield pecking order.
Parkinson praised Ashfield before Wednesday’s game and believed that he could replace Cannon, highlighting that he wanted to see the teenager against League One players.
Ashfield went on to impress Wrexham fans and is now knocking on the door for more first-team action with Cannon out.
Maybe Adam has picked up an injury problem that hasn’t been publicised, but it currently looks like Parkinson simply prefers Ashfield right now.
Cannon’s injury opened up chances for others at Wrexham but with Ashfield in the starting XI and Adam nowhere to be seen again, that one-year extension may well in some jeopardy.
This is Adam’s first season around a senior setup and maybe Wrexham will give him more time to adjust, but Ashfield – just about two years younger than Adam – is now on the rise.