A ‘maverick’ Wrexham player has the opportunity to prove his worth to Phil Parkinson in League One.
Wrexham are gearing up for a third promotion in a row next season after reaching League One.
Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have claimed they’ll do whatever it takes to win promotion to the Championship; a statement that should reflect on their business in the transfer window.
The Reds have already been linked with Notts County striker Macaulay Langstaff, but as they’ve got six strikers on their books – including the returning Jake Bickerstaff – it remains to be seen whether Phil Parkinson bolsters his forward line.
Wrexham announced they’d be renewing Steven Fletcher’s contract, although the veteran striker finished level on eight goals Ollie Palmer while Paul Mullin fired 25 in 42 appearances.
Naturally, there will be questions over where the goals are coming from, as while Mullin reached over a century of goals in just three seasons in Wales, he’s only scored three in 20 League One appearances.
Phil Parkinson can turn to Jack Marriott in League One
Jack Marriott was captured on a permanent deal from Fleetwood Town on transfer deadline day.
A former League One Golden Boot winner with Peterborough United, the 29-year-old was expected to obliterate the third tier.
Unfortunately, the Englishman has only started three times since his arrival, scoring just once in a 6-0 hammering of Forest Green Rovers.
A mixture of not being match sharp and Parkinson preferring Mullin to lead his line has hampered his game time.
The Wrexham boss likes to play a tall and physical striker alongside Mullin, which has ruled out any possibility of Marriott forming a deadly partnership with the Liverpudlian.
However, the step up to the third tier could see the former Derby County “maverick” come into his own having flourished at League One level previously.
Jack Marriott’s record in League One
Unlike Mullin and Palmer – who have rarely played third-tier football – Marriott has enjoyed the best years of his career in the division.
Marriott won the Golden Boot with Peterborough in the 2017/18 campaign after scoring 27 goals.
Derby snapped him up for £5 million following that impressive season and he ended up bagging that goal in the Championship play-off semi-final against Leeds United.
In terms of experience in League One, Marriott’s total of 45 goals in 114 appearances puts him ahead of any current Wrexham striker.
It means that, while Mullin is preferred to start – and rightly so – the former Derby talisman could prove to be an invaluable weapon in the third tier.
Although many don’t question that Mullin will continue his blistering form in the division above, a drop-off in form will see Marriott waiting in the wings and he could well be a wildcard that Parkinson unleashes.