Paul Mullin has stopped scoring goals and Wrexham are in desperate need of a new striker.
Since his arrival on a free transfer from Cambridge United in 2021, Paul Mullin has been the Red Dragon’s most valuable player.
He has finished the previous three campaigns with at least 20 goals and as the club’s top scorer. However, 2024/25 really hasn’t been the 30-year-old’s season so far.
Before the 2-2 draw with Bristol Rovers, Wrexham fans were backing Mullin to come good this term after netting just one league goal in 18 outings.
However, he replaced an injured Elliot Lee in the first half of that draw and was once again wasteful.
Wrexham fans changed their tune on Mullin during the Bristol Rovers stalemate after the striker wasted another big chance that should have been squared to Ryan Barnett.
With January now right around the corner, the Red Dragons want to sign a striker but Phil Parkinson may already have a perfect replacement for the club’s all-time topscorer on his books.
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Rio Owen could save Wrexham millions
Patrick Bamford has been linked with Wrexham this month but his wage could make a transfer tough to complete for the League One outfit.
Elsewhere, The Red Dragons are interested in signing Harry Cornick with his future at Championship outfit Bristol City in doubt.
However, while a new arrival in the winter window does make sense, Parkinson should be looking to his youth ranks to solve his striker problem.
One man who could potentially break into the senior team and act as a replacement for Mullin is Rio Owen.
Owen is only 18 years of age but has already scored a staggering 16 goals in 24 appearances in 2024/25 while playing for Wrexham’s youth team.
He most recently featured and scored a brace when the club’s U18 side claimed a 4-1 win over Chesterfield in a Youth Alliance clash on Sunday.
Granted, there is some element of risk involved in throwing the teenager straight into the League One fray but given how few goals Wrexham’s centre-forwards are scoring, it’s a risk Parkinson should be willing to take and one that could end up saving them millions on a Mullin replacement.
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What Phil Parkinson said about Paul Mullin after another goalless game
The Liverpool-born number nine now has just one goal in 19 League One matches this campaign.
But while fans have seemingly begun to grow tired of him, Parkinson is keeping faith in Mullin.
Speaking post-Bristol Rovers, the Wrexham boss made a big prediction about the out-of-form forward
He said: “I thought Mulls worked hard today, he just didn’t get the moment but that will come for him – I’m absolutely sure.”
With Lee potentially out injured after coming off on Saturday, we could see Mullin handed a rare start versus Blackpool on Boxing Day.