Phil Parkinson has been told he has a player in his Wrexham squad who has got ‘so much ability’, and it’s not who you’d think.
Wrexham’s squad is shaping up nicely ahead of their League One challenge. Phil Parkinson has successfully released several of his fringe players and brought in quality replacements – five to be exact.
Although the Wrexham boss is far from done with his transfer business, the fact they’ve managed to land Arthur Okonkwo, Lewis Brunt, George Dobson, Callum Burton and Sebastian Revan is promising.
It provides supporters with hope that the Reds can challenge for a third successive promotion in 2024/25 and that is the aim set out by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
Whilst pre-season is a period where new signings arrive, it’s also a chance for the fringe players to showcase their worth. Midfielder Jordan Davies started nicely in that regard by scoring a brace against Hanley Town while Sam Dalby is another who impressed.
Sam Dalby has got ‘so much ability’ at Wrexham
Wrexham striker Dalby rarely played towards the end of the campaign last term, featuring in just four of the final 17 games but he still appeared in 40 matches in all competitions.
The 24-year-old scored five goals and laid on assists but like many in his position, struggled to nail down a starting spot as Paul Mullin was almost ever-present while one of Steven Fletcher and Ollie Palmer was his preferred partner.
To work his way into Parkinson’s plans in League One, Dalby needs a flawless pre-season, starting as he means to go on with a goal against Hanley Town.
The English striker now has to continue that momentum on the tour of America and journalist Nathan Salt thinks he will, as he believes he’s ‘really talented’ and has got ‘so much ability’ that needs to be unleashed.
Speaking on the Rob Ryan Red podcast, Salt said: “I just want to pick out Sam Dalby, who we’ve spoken about before in terms of; he is well-liked by Phil Parkinson and other players talk about how he’s got so much ability in training they can’t get over it, like he’s just really really talented and they sort of want to shake him almost to just get it out of him when it comes to the matches.
“He was impressive, admittedly against a tiring Hanley defence but there is an opportunity there. If he is still at the club and he’s not been loaned out by the Wycombe game, he has got to believe he’s got the ability to think he has the chance to make an impact without Mullin there; he’s in competition with Marriott, in competition with Palmer. He’s really got to seize this pre-season with both hands.”
How Sam Dalby can salvage his Wrexham career
Parkinson previously said that Dalby has got ‘a lot of potential’ but as Salt mentioned, he needs someone to shake him up so he can deliver on the pitch.
Although he’s competing with several other strikers at the club, the injury to Mullin – who will miss the opening couple of matches – could have opened the door for Dalby to play in League One.
The former Southend United marksman is competing with mainly Jack Marriott for a place in the starting XI come August 10th and his form in pre-season could determine whether he gets selected.
Many players in the Wrexham squad are entering a fresh start on the trip to America – including Dalby – who will be doing everything in his power to impress against the likes of Bournemouth and Chelsea to work his way into Parkinson’s plans.
Ultimately, it’s against superior opposition where the Englishman can prove why he has a future at the club, even if his contract does expire in 2025.