Wrexham fans have been left wondering where Sam Smith is, after the striker was missing from both of the opening pre-season friendlies in Australia.
Sam Smith played a key role in getting Wrexham promoted to League One last season, scoring seven goals in the league following his club record transfer from Reading, which cost Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney £2million last January.
He scored twice in Wrexham’s 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic back in April, which is the win that sent the Dragons into the Championship.
But so far, the 27-year-old Smith is yet to play in pre-season. For the win over Melbourne Victory and then in Wrexham’s 2-1 defeat against Sydney FC, Smith was absent, and no update had been provided on the striker’s fitness.
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Phil Parkinson gives injury update on Sam Smith after Wrexham vs Sydney FC
On Tuesday, Wrexham fell to a disappointing defeat in Sydney. The Australian outfit came from behind to eventually win against what was a rather sorry looking Dragons side. But the major news was the injury to Ollie Rathbone who was forced off with an ankle injury.
Parkinson says Rathbone went to hospital for an x-ray on the injury, and speaking on his side’s other injury concerns, the Dragons boss mentioned Smith. Parkinson said: “We’ve got a few other injury concerns. Nothing major. You know, Jay Rodriguez obviously hadn’t played previously. Had a problem with his foot and he was still feeling it. So we need to assess that quickly.
“Hopefully get Ryan Hardie, Mo Faal close to being selected for the weekend because those two need some minutes. Sam Smith’s still a bit behind that. We’ll just see how everybody is tomorrow.”
So when will Sam Smith return for Wrexham?
It all remains very unclear at this moment in time: maybe Parkinson doesn’t want to give too much away ahead of Wrexham’s season opener against Southampton, or maybe his injury isn’t all that serious.
But Parkinson suggests that Hardie and Faal could be back to play against Wellington Phoenix on the 19th, whilst saying that Smith is behind those two, so it looks like the former Reading man won’t play at all on this pre-season tour.
It’s certainly a worry for Parkinson, especially after reports that Wrexham may not sign another striker this summer.
If Smith’s injury persists then Wrexham might have to sign another striker, as his current options altogether don’t seem capable of keeping Wrexham in the Championship next season.