"Do not fix what isn't broken" - Wrexham AFC: Claim made on Ollie Palmer, Paul Mullin dilemma pre-Crawley | OneFootball

Although he has struggled on the goal front, the forward has made a good connection with Jack Marriott.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Wrexham AFC suffered their first defeat of the League One campaign on Monday evening, losing 3-1 to Birmingham City.

Although Chris Davies' side proved too much to handle at the back for the Welsh team, they were able to take the lead very early on through Jack Marriott. However, it has been his strike partner this season, Ollie Palmer, who is raising questions.

The 32-year-old has struggled to get among the goals in the last couple of years, despite a fairly decent record while Wrexham were in the National League.

It has led to some sections of the support wondering whether Paul Mullin should come back into the starting XI sooner rather than later, particularly as the former Cambridge United striker has proven his goal-scoring record in recent years.

The Red Dragons welcome Crawley Town to the STōK Cae Ras on Saturday in the hope of recovering from their loss earlier in the week, and manager Phil Parkinson has a tough choice to make over who partners Marriott in the attacking third.

Palmer, Mullin debate will split opinions

Since joining the club in January 2022 from AFC Wimbledon, Palmer has been the partnering striker, with his fellow striker the one who tends to grab the goals.

This season has been very different for both himself and Wrexham, after losing Mullin in June due to a need for surgery on his spine.

This has meant that the 24-goal man from 2023/24 has had to face a more gradual return to action, giving Marriott the opportunity to grab the goals. Nevertheless, with Mullin's history, and their number 11 finding the back of the net consistently in the opening weeks, it could be Palmer who is axed as soon as this weekend.

When asked if Palmer should be dropped against Crawley, Football League World's Wrexham Fan Pundit, Liam Grice, disagreed.

He told FLW: "Personally, I think you do not fix what isn't broken.

"Don't get me wrong, Mullin is probably our best striker, but the way Ollie Palmer and Jack Marriott have both performed together this season has come as a shock to a lot of us, I think.

"Personally, I wasn't really sure whether Palmer could make the step-up to League One, although he has played at the level before, but whether he could make that step up again after becoming a bit older and losing a bit of that edge.

"But he's performed superbly so far this season, he's seemed better than he did in the National League. So for me, I don't think Ollie Palmer is the one you want to drop for this game, and I think it'd be quite harsh to drop Jack Marriott as well."

Palmer has to start finding the net soon

Although he has been given the vote of confidence by Liam, strikers are valued by their goal output, and if his duck this season continues, Palmer may find himself making way very soon.

Contrary to this, Mullin will have to be managed by Parkinson, as he has been already, throughout the coming weeks.

His surgery fixed a long-term problem, and he is yet to play more than half an hour in a match in League One so far.

But, with each passing game, Mullin's fitness is growing and this will put more and more pressure on Palmer to score the goals that prove why he should definitely be in the starting XI, otherwise he may have to take up a secondary role.