Phil Parkinson in awe of ‘superb’ Wrexham player after 1-1 draw vs Derby County, he can do it all

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson was full of praise for Lewis O’Brien after the game against Derby County.

Wrexham’s search for a first home league win of the season rumbles on after their game against Derby County on Saturday afternoon.

Lewis O’Brien handed the Dragons a second half lead but soon after, Ben Brereton Diaz rifled home an equaliser, as Wrexham and Derby County drew 1-1 at the Racecourse.

It’s another lead lost and another potential home win missed. But there were positives again for Phil Parkinson’s side who arguably deserved the win on the day.

One positive was the performance of Wrexham’s £3million summer signing O’Brien.

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Phil Parkinson hails Lewis O’Brien after Wrexham 1-1 Derby County

O’Brien admitted that he wants to score more goals this season, having previously only scored four goals in a single league season. Already after seven league games for the Dragons, he has three goals to his name, and an assist too, as the feisty midfielder stays true to his goals ambition this season.

And his goal against Derby was arguably his best yet: after some nice link up play in midfield, Issa Kabore crossed into O’Brien who neatly headed home. Speaking after the game, Parkinson admitted it was a great goal, also admitting that he thinks the 26-year-old O’Brien is a quality player.

Parkinson said of O’Brien: “He’s a superb player, isn’t he? All round, with and without the ball. The goal is a high quality goal, it really is. It was a brilliant bit of combination play, and another one for him, that’s three for the season.”

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Wrexham’s top scorers in 2025/26 so far

Whilst Wrexham have struggled in certain areas so far this season, scoring goals is not somewhere where they’ve struggled, having scored in every league game so far this season.

Parkinson’s side already have 12 goals in seven Championship games making them the joint third-highest scorers in the league so far this season.

And O’Brien’s three goals ties him with Josh Windass as the club’s second top scorer, behind Kieffer Moore who already has four goals in the Championship this season.

But Moore picked up a couple of knocks against Derby County and it might be time that he’s given a rest, with the Welsh international having not scored in his last two for Wrexham now.