Wrexham have a tricky away day against Barnsley to start 2025, and Phil Parkinson has a big selection decision to make for the game.
The Red Dragons have now won back-to-back home games at the Racecourse Ground thanks to late winners against Blackpool and Wigan.
However, Wrexham have a sterner test awaiting them on New Year’s Day, with plenty of reasons to fear promotion-chasing Barnsley.
We don’t envy the task awaiting the Wrexham squad and Phil Parkinson, but one major team selection call could make or break the outcome of the game.
Arthur Okonkwo could come in for shaky Mark Howard
With Arthur Okonkwo now back from his wrist injury, Parkinson will have to decide who to start in goal from here on out.
Mark Howard has deputised admirably over the last few weeks, but his shaky display against Wigan should make Parkinson’s decision an easy one.
Okonkwo is Wrexham’s number one goalkeeper for a reason, and now that he’s fit and ready to go, it’s time to draft him back in and get 2025 off to a strong start.
It would be a surprise to see Parkinson switch things up, of course, with the goalkeeper role being the one area of the pitch that requires the most consistency, but he will have to make the change at some point so why not now?
Changing goalkeeper now could be a big risk for Wrexham
Howard had Wrexham hearts in mouths over the weekend when his calamitous attempt at clearing a back-pass almost gifted the Latics a tap-in.
But, he’s played well overall lately, and Parkinson praised Howard for his ‘brilliant’ display against Blackpool in particular.
| Statistics | Arthur Okonkwo (2024/25) | Mark Howard (2024/25) |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 14 | 6 |
| Goals conceded | 10 | 5 |
| Saves | 48 | 7 |
| Save % | 84.2 | 63.6 |
| Saves per 90 | 3.2 | 1.9 |
| Clean sheets | 8 | 2 |
It would be a risk to change the man between the sticks, but in a way, we’d be more surprised if Okonkwo wasn’t in the starting XI for the Barnsley game.
He’s the better ‘keeper, and he’s the player Wrexham want playing there long-term, so it makes sense to get him back on the pitch as soon as possible.