Wrexham fans may still be reeling from the New Year’s Day defeat to Barnsley but some will have had one eye on Sam Dalby.
Wrexham ended 2024 with two home wins over Blackpool and Wigan Athletic but that run ended on New Year’s Day.
Phil Parkinson saw his side lose 2-1 at Barnsley with Wrexham failing to overcome a 2-0 first-half deficit.
Goalscorer Max Cleworth wasn’t happy with Wrexham’s display and better will be required this weekend.
Wrexham’s attention turns to facing Peterborough United at the STōK Cae Ras with Darren Ferguson expecting a real battle.
Fans will also hope to hear some transfer news in the coming days with Wrexham potentially in the market for new signings.
- READ MORE: Sam Dalby shares how Steven Fletcher reacted to his deadline day move from Wrexham to Dundee United
Wrexham loanee earns more praise
Wrexham are keen to sign another striker this month and we area ready seeing plenty of speculation.
Plymouth Argyle’s Ryan Hardie is the latest name linked with Wrexham but Parkinson may have a decision to make over Sam Dalby.
Wrexham loaned Dalby to Dundee United on deadline day with the striker seemingly not in Parkinson’s plans.
Dalby just can’t stop scoring for Dundee United and scored against bitter rivals Dundee on Thursday evening.
Dalby is now the top scorer in the Scottish Premiership with 10 goals to his name this season, sparking suggestions of a recall to Wrexham.
Parkinson will make a decision on Dalby’s return in the coming days and Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin has commented on the striker’s future.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Goodwin admitted that he ‘knew’ Dalby would be a big success after landing him from Wrexham.
Goodwin wants to keep Dalby permanently but accepts that task is becoming harder and harder – and thinks Dalby will have plenty of interest when his Wrexham deal ends this summer.
“It’s always a group effort, I don’t really like talking about individuals. Obviously the strikers will always grab the headlines when they pop up with the goals but all over the park we’ve been consistently strong. Defensively a really good unit, don’t give many goals away at the back,” said Goodwin.
“When we do create chances you always fancy Sam to get on the end of something. He’s got a real knack of finding himself in the right position.
“I knew when we took him that he would be successful here. My hope was that we’d be able to tie him down to a lengthy contract but the more he keeps banging in these goals the harder he’s going to make that task for me.
“I’m not concerned about that at the moment. I think as Dundee United supporters we should enjoy having him while he’s here. We’ll do everything we can to try and keep him but I’m pretty sure the big fella will have a lot of options in the summer,” he added.
Scottish pundits on Sam Dalby
Wrexham may well look to recall Dalby given his rich vein of goalscoring form but selling him on elsewhere won’t be possible given that he has already played for two clubs this season.
Pundits discussed Dalby’s future on Sky Sports with Kris Boyd urging Dundee United to find the cash to make Dalby an offer to stay.
“If you’ve got someone scoring goals, you have to find a way to keep them,” said Boyd.
“Dundee United, they’re a big club, they’ll be able to find some money from somewhere to at least offer him something.
However, Dalby has remained coy on his future and pundit Chris Sutton believes that the striker may have had his head turned away from Tannadice.
“He didn’t want to commit in the interview did he, Sam Dalby, to that question, which suggests he may have had his head turned,” said Sutton.
A move elsewhere in January seemingly isn’t possible but Dalby may well fancy his chances of a return to Wrexham in this League One promotion push.