Paul Mullin return poses familiar Wrexham dilemma
To the delight of the supporters at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham talisman Paul Mullin was back on the field against Reading.
It was his first game action since sustaining a back injury over the summer as he replaced Jack Marriott for the final 16 minutes of a comfortable 3-0 triumph over the Biscuitmen.
His return will undoubtedly raise the level of optimism already surrounding this club that they can do the impossible and earn a third successive promotion.
There are many reasons to believe Phil Parkinson’s men will continue flourishing with “Super Paul” back in the fold, but could his return adversely affect this group?
Mullin’s impact at Wrexham
Paul Mullin is a fan favourite among the Wrexham faithful, because of his tireless work in the community, his quality in front of goal and his ability to make others around him that much better.
When a team is playing as well as Wrexham is at the moment, there’s an obvious concern about what effect a returnee might have on the continuity within this group. Although Wrexham have been exceptional in the attacking third minus Mullin, with six different players finding the back of the net in his absence, it’s hard to imagine Mullin’s presence will negatively affect the chemistry of this group.
Let’s remember that we’re only a few weeks into the new campaign, and this side didn’t have the 29-year-old Welshman in the early stages of the 2023-24 League Two campaign either. It didn’t hurt Mullin or the team then, and there’s no reason to believe it’ll change this time around.
The balanced scoring and success the Reds have enjoyed should enable Parkinson to ease Mullin back into the fold slowly. There’s no reason to rush him, as this team have shown they can shoulder the responsibility of scoring without Mullin.
Who will be benched to make room for Mullin?
When Parkinson believes Mullin is ready to start, it means the Wrexham boss will have to relegate a current attacker to the bench. That will be a difficult decision as numerous Wrexham attackers have put forth some strong showings in League One thus far.
Jack Marriott has arguably been their best striker in the early portion of the season, but he may be the unfortunate one who’ll have to sit when Mullin is fully fit.
Ollie Palmer has built some solid chemistry alongside Mullin in the attack, and it’s difficult to understand why Parkinson would want to change that.
Palmer has also had a solid start to the season, and the understanding he and Mullin have on the field is noticeable and a big part of their success, plus his goal contributions may put him ahead of Marriott in the pecking order.
Marriott may have another game or two to change Parkinson’s mind, but barring an injury to Mullin, the 29-year-old could have to embrace the role of being a super sub as this season rolls along.
