The good news for any club suffering from injury issues – take Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham for instance – is that the January transfer window offers a shot at a solution.
During the build up to Saturday’s meeting with old rivals Stockport County at Edgeley Park, the Wrexham boss spoke out about the extent of the fitness problems facing his Wrexham side.
Phil Parkinson will be without goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo for at least six weeks due to a broken wrist. Striker Steven Fletcher, meanwhile, has suffered a set-back of his own with fellow centre-forward Jack Marriott also out of action for the foreseeable future.
Will Boyle and Luke Bolton were also forced out during the EFL Trophy clash with Port Vale in midweek.
“Unfortunately, we picked up two injuries on the night, Luke Bolton and Will Boyle,” Parkinson said post-match. “And both look like four to five week lay-offs, which is obviously frustrating.”
Bolton and Boyle, then, face a race against time if they are to be involved during the hectic festive period. But, with both players expected to return before the end of the year, Parkinson insists that Wrexham are not likely to be forced into the market to sign a replacement centre-half or right-back.
Phil Parkinson on how injuries impact Wrexham’s January transfer plan
“I think with those two, they’ll be back by January anyway,” Parkinson tells the BBC on Friday. “So that wouldn’t make us move in that department in the transfer window.”
Bolton, a regular during Wrexham’s 2023/24 promotion campaign out of the fourth tier, had been restricted to only three appearances this term before his latest injury blow.
With Ryan Barnett going from strength to strength on the right-hand side – Wrexham’s star performer scored the winner against Mansfield Town last weekend – Bolton would likely have found regular minutes hard to come by even if he’d stayed fit.
Powerhouse central defender Boyle has featured only three times himself. The defensive triumvirate of Max Cleworth, Dan Scarr and Tom O’Connor has emerged as Parkinson’s go-to back three in the meantime.
Parkinson, meanwhile, confirms that former Wolves, Sunderland and Hibernian hitman Fletcher will be out for at least another fortnight. The 37-year-old has received an injection in an attempt to correct a knee issue.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson may have to step up amid Steven Fletcher blow
With Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer struggling for goals in league action, the absences of Fletcher and Marriott remains a cause for concern.
Parkinson does have Jon Dadi Bodvarsson at his disposal these days, however, the recent free-agent signing in line for a first start at Stockport.
Mo Faal is also available, having impressed Parkinson during EFL Trophy action. The experienced tactician particularly enjoyed the way Bodvarsson and Faal linked up on the night versus League Two promotion-chasers Port Vale.
“Jon hasn’t played [much football] and I always wanted to bring him off after 60 minutes,” Parkinson admits after Bodvarsson played an hour at Vale Park.
“I wanted to stretch Mo [Faal] longer but he was cramping up, and we couldn’t afford to get him or Jon injured because the league is so important.
“And we are already without Jack Marriott and Steven Fletcher.”
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