Josh Windass made his home league debut for Wrexham on Saturday but it was a short-lived one for the former Sheffield Wednesday man.
Josh Windass started up front for Wrexham in their Championship game against West Brom on Saturday. Alongside a returning Kieffer Moore, Windass was looking to add to his one goal in Wrexham colours, but his home league debut was cut short in the first half.
The 30-year-old was forced off with what looked like a muscle injury with Phil Parkinson bringing on new signing Nathan Broadhead following his £10million move to Wrexham.
In the opening game of the season, Windass scored in Wrexham’s 2-1 defeat against Southampton. But having had struggles with injuries in the past, many will be concerned that Windass is now facing a stint on the sidelines after the striker went down and signalled straight to the bench indicating that he had sustained a muscle injury.
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson gives immediate response to Josh Windass injury
Already this season, Wrexham have a lengthy injury list. Thankfully, Moore has made an unexpected immediate return to action after he sustained an ankle injury against Southampton, but Parkinson is still without some key players, including the likes of summer signing George Thomason, Ollie Rathbone, and now potentially Liberato Cacace, who was left out of the game against West Brom unexpectedly.
And speaking after Wrexham’s 3-2 defeat against West Brom, Parkinson was asked on Sky Sports whether or not he’s had a chance to dissect the injury sustained by Windass on Saturday afternoon. Parkinson revealed that he’s not yet spoken to the physios but confirmed that the injury looked relatively serious.
Parkinson said: “I haven’t actually spoke to the physio yet. But obviously it didn’t look too good and that’s a blow.”
Josh Windass injury could keep Ollie Palmer in Wrexham limbo
Windass certainly looked as though he was in pain when he went down earlier. Given how he’s had several similar muscle injuries in the past, the fact that he signalled straight away to come off suggests that he himself knows that he’s done some damage. It’s a huge blow for Wrexham and for Parkinson, but thankfully Broadhead has just arrived and Moore seems to be fit and firing, so Windass can be replaced.
There’s also Ryan Hardie and Sam Smith who scored his first goal of the season against West Brom. But fans won’t forget about Ollie Palmer. Palmer was left out of the Wrexham matchday squad against West Brom despite scoring twice against Hull City in midweek.
It remains the case that Palmer looks set to leave the club this summer, though Windass’ injury may well force Parkinson to keep Palmer in the squad but right on the peripheries of the first team.
For Palmer, Windass’ injury might well be a bit of a blow for him as it’s clear that Parkinson doesn’t see him as part of Wrexham’s future, but he may be now forced to keep him. That could see Palmer playing barely any football until he eventually leaves the club whenever that might be.