Opinion

3 players who may have already played last game for Wrexham, including Sam Ricketts signing

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Wrexham are on a quest to win promotion to League One at the first time of asking and while some have played a vital role, others have rarely featured.

Following their record-breaking promotion from the National League, Wrexham made eight first-team signings to bolster their squad.

The likes of James McClean, Arthur Okonkwo, George Evans and Steven Fletcher all arrived and have played prominent roles under Phil Parkinson.

Sadly, improving their squad with added quality has seen some of their players fall down the pecking order and are now surplus to requirements.

Here are three players who may have already played their last game for Wrexham…

Barrow v Wrexham - Sky Bet League 2
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Anthony Forde

Anthony Forde was a regular starter in the National League last term, featuring 31 times and scoring three times as Wrexham won the title.

The right-sided midfielder, who has regularly played as a wing-back for the Reds, did play 14 matches in League Two but has been sidelined with a back injury since the middle of January.

Forde was the reason that Parkinson left the final space in his 22-man squad vacant as he was waiting for the 30-year-old to return to action.

Once he is available to play, though, it’s unlikely that he’ll get a look in as Ryan Barnett and Luke Bolton tussle for the right wing-back spot.

With the prospect of him falling to third choice in the pecking order, Forde could be surplus to requirements in the summer and that could mean he’s already played his last game for Wrexham.

Rob Lainton

Goalkeeper Rob Lainton was captured from Port Vale in the summer of 2018 and has gone on to make 133 appearances for the club.

There is no doubt that the 34-year-old would have made miles more appearances but injuries over the past two years have prevented him from featuring.

Lainton only made six appearances in the National League last term and after undergoing surgery in December, it doesn’t look as though he’ll feature for the Reds ever again.

Given his age and the fact his contract is expiring this year, it’s looking like a sad ending for someone who has been a great servant to the club.

Callum McFadzean

Unlike Lainton, whose exclusion from the squad has been down to injuries, Callum McFadzean hasn’t played at all in the league this season because there’s too much competition on the left side of defence with McClean hogging those minutes.

McFadzean played 27 games as a left wing-back in the National League last season, sharing responsibility with Jacob Mendy, but has since only made one senior appearance and that was in the Carabao Cup.

That victory over Wigan Athletic on penalties may well be his last appearance for the club with his contract expiring in the summer.