Wrexham have two new strikers at Phil Parkinson’s disposal, which cushions the blow of Paul Mullin suffering an injury problem.
Phil Parkinson wanted a big response from his Wrexham side at Crawley Town on Saturday.
Wrexham weren’t nearly good enough in the 3-2 defeat to Stevenage as the unbeaten home record came to an end.
Parkinson hinted at major changes and he delivered, notably dropping Arthur Okonkwo to the bench.
In-demand Ollie Palmer wasn’t involved at all whilst Sam Smith and Jay Rodriguez were thrown straight into the starting XI.
Wrexham came up with a 2-1 victory on the road as Elliot Lee’s late winner handed Parkinson all three points and a return to winning ways.
Phil Parkinson on Paul Mullin problem
Another notable name missing from the team sheet was striker Paul Mullin.
Not in the starting lineup, not on the bench either – Mullin was nowhere to be seen at Crawley.
Mullin had shown some promise off the bench against Stevenage as he looks to recapture his best form.
Some had even wondered whether he could be moved out of the club – something completely unthinkable last summer – after the arrivals of Smith and Rodriguez.
Wrexham quickly dispelled that idea though, confirming that Mullin was out with a shin problem and would be undergoing a scan.
Parkinson has now told BBC Sport that Mullin just has a ‘minor problem’ and doesn’t believe the injury is serious.
Parkinsin did though share his conversation with Mullin, telling the Wrexham striker that he didn’t want to put him at any risk against Crawley.
Wrexham have a lot of games to come and Parkinson just didn’t feel that it was necessary to play Mullin – especially with Smith and Rodriguez ready and raring to go.
“It’s just a minor problem with Mulls,” said Parkinson.
“I said ‘until we get that scan, I don’t want to put you at risk because we’ve got a lot of football to play’. Hopefully it’s nothing serious, I don’t think it is. It just wasn’t quite right.
“When you’ve got players like Jack [Marriott] and Fletch [Steven Fletcher] and the options we’ve got, there’s no need to risk a player. They were right with the lads in the dressing room, and all of the lads who didn’t make the bench like George Evans and [Jacob] Mendy, right with us, that’s what we’ve always been about.
“We’ve got a lot of games left and everyone’s going to be utilised,” he added.
Paul Mullin facing new Wrexham competition
Mullin hasn’t quite been at his best this season.
The Wrexham goal hero had a slow start to last season too, before really kicking into gear in the promotion run-in.
Perhaps the same will happen again this season, but Mullin now faces new competition at Wrexham.
Smith arrives having been a proven League One goalscorer at Cambridge United and Reading whilst Rodriguez comes in with Premier League and Championship experience.
Smith and Rodriguez impressed Wrexham fans on Saturday and may well be Parkinson’s top partnership moving forward.
Mullin will be desperate to impress and whilst seeing his great strike partner Palmer potentially move on would sting, Mullin can still make a huge impact for wrexham once he returns from injury.