With Jacob Mendy receiving a call-up to the Gambia squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, Wrexham will need a wing back to step up and fill the void left, we suggest Ryan Barnett.
It has been a great campaign for Wrexham so far which has seen them rise up to the top end of League Two.
With Phil Parkinson at the helm, there is so much to be positive about moving into the second half of the season.
There have been many injuries for the Reds to contend with that they haven’t let derail their form. This week has seen updates on stars like Aaron Hayden and Ollie Palmer who have been missing for many weeks.
Now there has been another absence for Parkinson to contend with as Jacob Mendy jets off to AFCON with Gambia.
Given that he has featured in 19 of Wrexham’s 25 games this season, according to FotMob, he will certainly be missed.
With that being said, there is going to be a need for another player to step up and fill the void left by the international star.
Ryan Barnett to step up in place of Jacob Mendy
It must be said that in recent weeks, with Mendy missing, it has been Anthony Forde who has come in to replace him.
There is nothing against Forde, he is a very serviceable player who certainly plays his part in the Wrexham squad. This season he has made just seven starts and has averaged a rating of 6.82 in that time.
With that being said, his performances in recent weeks have been quiet and a change may be worth a go for Parkinson.
This could see Ryan Barnett come in, in place of Mendy moving forward. The man signed from Solihull Moors hasn’t played too much since his move but could be deserving of more minutes.
This season he has made 13 appearances with over 800 minutes in that time. With a spot in the team up for grabs, he could come in and take advantage.
The Englishman is very quick and can get up and down the touchline all game long. With Steven Fletcher and Palmer potentially in the box, a crossing machine like Barnett could be useful.
He ranks well for attacking stats but his defensive side also matches up. This is as he wins 71.4% of tackles and has only been dribbled past once this season.
It may be an outside shout but with Mendy missing, Barnett may be a more like-for-like change. He deserves a starting chance and could shine down the wing for the Reds.