Ollie Rathbone was the key player for Wrexham last season. But this season, he’s nowhere to be seen.
Ollie Rathbone ended the 2024/25 season as Wrexham’s Player of the Season. The midfielder joined from Rotherham United ahead of last season and scored eight times in 41 League One games.
In crunch matches against Blackpool and then Charlton Athletic towards the end of last season, the Charlton win securing Wrexham’s promotion, Rathbone was on target, highlighting his ability to step up in the really important moments.
But then during Wrexham’s pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand, Rathbone picked up an ankle injury which has kept him out of action since.
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Phil Parkinson suggests Ollie Rathbone could return for Wrexham in January
Rathbone hasn’t featured since his injury. In fact, there’s been little said about the 28-year-old since then. But on Thursday, Wrexham announced their registered squad for the 2025/26 season, with Rathbone omitted from the side along with Danny Ward, Andy Cannon and Jay Rodriguez who all have injuries right now.
Speaking to Leader Live, manager Phil Parkinson has commented on the players omitted from his Championship squad, saying: “Obviously we have got players who have got long-term injuries and it is difficult to put players with long-term injuries in the squad.
“It is unfortunate for those players but it can all be reviewed in January.”
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Ollie Rathbone’s injury timeline at Wrexham becomes clearer
Straight away when Rathbone had to come off the pitch against Sydney FC, it was a worry. And Parkinson revealed after that Rathbone’s ankle swelled up instantly, with the Englishman forced to go to hospital and wear a protective boot for two weeks.
But in a potential return timeline, Daily Mail have written that Rathbone is ‘facing months on the sidelines’, though whether that means months from now or months from when he picked up his injury remains to be seen.
His omission from the Wrexham squad though suggests that it could be a few more months from now. But for Parkinson, the silver lining is that Rathbone could almost be like a January signing for him, as he’ll no doubt be in squad contention when he’s fit again.
Wrexham return to action against QPR at the Racecourse on September 13th.