The injury bug has hit Wrexham particularly hard over the past few weeks, with the biggest one occurring just last weekend.

Phil Parkinson has confirmed first-choice goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo suffered a broken wrist in the 1-0 win over Mansfield Town and will be out for a minimum of six weeks. It’s a massive blow to a side competing for a third successive promotion, sitting third in the League One table with 28 points.

Okonkwo’s numbers this season

After a successful loan spell from Arsenal last season, Wrexham won the race to sign Okonkwo on a three-year contract over the summer after he had become a free agent.

The Arsenal academy product has started every League One fixture for the Red Dragons this season, collecting eight domestic clean sheets, the join-most alongside Joe Whitworth of Exeter City. Okonkwo has had another outstanding campaign, boasting the second-highest save percentage in League One (82.1%). Meanwhile, he ranks third in goals prevented (four), with his side conceding the joint-fewest goals domestically and Okonkwo only allowing an average of 0.7 goals per 90.

Who may take Okonkwo’s place?

The prognosis Okonkwo isn’t good, though it’s a situation this club has faced before. A year ago, Okonkwo broke his jaw in a 2-2 draw with Harrogate Town in another huge setback to the club.

During his absence veteran Mark Howard, started two of Wrexham’s three competitive matches before Okonkwo’s return, winning both encounters, including a clean sheet in their 3-0 FA Cup victory over Yeovil Town.

Howard may be called into action over these next few weeks after his EFL Trophy cameo against Port Vale, however Callum Burton is also available, and has a solid resume as an EFL keeper.

Howard vs Burton

Howard has plenty of experience in League One and the Championship, helping Bolton Wanderers finish as League One runners-up in 2016-17. He was previously the Player of the Year for Carlisle United in 2021-22 and was part of the Wrexham team that earned a promotion from the National League and League Two, featuring in 33 matches in 2022-23.

Burton meanwhile started 18 matches in League One for Plymouth Argyle in 2022-23, collecting seven clean sheets to help them win the domestic title. While he’s usually played second fiddle throughout his career, the native of Newport has come

up big when called upon, notably stopping three successive penalties in the EFL Trophy semi- final versus Cheltenham Town in February 2023, enabling Plymouth to make a third appearance at Wembley Stadium.

Burton and Howard each played 45 minutes on Tuesday in their 1-1 draw with Port Vale Town in normal time, with the former earning a clean sheet, while Howard stopped one penalty in the subsequent shootout defeat.

Parkinson is more familiar with Howard, but Burton seems like the best solution, given his age and the ability he has already showcased across the cup competitions so far this season. He’s got the reflexes and command that could keep Wrexham winning, while Burton arguably gives them the best chance of winning league fixtures. Howard can still step in and contribute, but at 38, it’s a lot to ask him to play so many meaningful league games.