Wrexham have a great opportunity to close the gap at the top of the League One table this afternoon, meaning Phil Parkinson really needs to get his team selection spot on.
Last week, Wrexham were frustrated to lose ground in the promotion race after defeat to Leyton Orient, despite leading the game early on through another Ollie Rathbone goal.
The Red Dragons fell apart in the second half at the Racecourse Ground in midweek, and Phil Parkinson now has some big decisions to make to avoid another ‘abysmal’ performance.
Up next is an away trip to Mansfield Town, a team lingering in midtable this season. But, with results going Wrexham’s way on Saturday, Parkinson must capitalise and lead his team to a comprehensive win.
Phil Parkinson might rotate goalkeepers once again
We’ve already put together our predicted Wrexham lineup for the Mansfield game, and while we expect minimal changes from the Red Dragons, there is one major switch Parkinson could make today.
Despite not necessarily putting a foot wrong against Leyton Orient, we suspect Parkinson will drop Mark Howard, allowing Arthur Okonkwo to step in between the sticks once more.
The two goalkeepers have been trading places pretty regularly over the last few weeks, and it seems Parkinson can’t quite settle on who he wants in goal.
Wrexham did struggle defensively on Tuesday night, and while that wasn’t particularly Howard’s fault, there’s every reason to believe the Wrexham manager will believe having a different set of hands behind the backline could make all the difference and add a more solid presence to protect the goal.
- READ MORE: Phil Parkinson offers Elliot Lee update as Mansfield Town clash ‘too early’ for Wrexham star
Arthur Okonkwo vs Mark Howard: Who is actually Wrexham’s number one?
On paper, Arthur Okonkwo is the number one at Wrexham. He’s got the shirt to prove it, and he’s a ‘brilliant’ goalkeeper on his day. But, he is not without his flaws.
The relatively young Okonkwo does have a tendency to drop a clanger that can cost his team. However, it’s worth noting that injury issues have hampered him this season, and Parkinson admitted he recalled the 23-year-old too soon earlier this year.
But, after a stellar display against Bolton in the EFL Trophy, Okonkwo will have felt aggrieved to be dropped after the Stevenage defeat, and Howard has barely put a foot wrong when given the chance, which makes the decision all the more difficult for Parkinson now.
| Statistics | Arthur Okonkwo | Mark Howard |
| Appearances | 19 | 10 |
| Goals conceded | 17 | 10 |
| Clean sheets | 9 | 4 |
| Saves per 90 | 2.78 | 1.02 |
| Save % | 76.6 | 52.6 |
Parkinson once hailed Howard as ‘superb’, and there’s no doubt he’s more than capable when called upon. Howard was rewarded for his good displays, and Okonkwo was given the rest he was promised, too.
Still, enough time has passed now that Okonkwo could and should be give the chance to prove himself again. When both goalkeepers are fully fit, Howard simply has to play second fiddle. Okonkwo is the kind of goalkeeper Wrexham can lean on for the next ten years, and despite some rotation, he is still the Red Dragons’ number one man.