Wrexham AFC: January signing must prove worth as Paul Mullin replacement - View | OneFootball

Jack Marriott has scored just once since joining the Red Dragons from Fleetwood and now needs to prove his worth.

Highlights

For the second year in a row, Wrexham AFC are heading into a new season without their star player after Paul Mullin underwent surgery to resolve a back problem earlier this summer.

The striker's contribution has been vital in helping the Red Dragons secure back-to-back promotions, scoring more than 100 goals since joining the club in July 2021.

In his absence, Phil Parkinson is likely to look to one of his January recruits to fill the void in Jack Marriott.

The 29-year-old has experience in abundance at both League One and Championship level, and finished the 2017/18 season as the third tier's top scorer after notching 27 goals in the league for Peterborough United.

However, he has only scored once since joining Wrexham from Fleetwood for an undisclosed fee on transfer deadline day.

Here FLW looks at why Marriott will need to step up to the mark with Mullin on the sidelines.

Mullin's contribution vital to Wrexham's success

While Wrexham are far from a one-man team, there's no denying how crucial Mullin has been to their success since joining.

The 29-year-old's signing in 2021 was a huge statement of intent by the club, coming just months after their takeover by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney was officially confirmed.

Only Elliott Lee's arrival a year later after leaving Luton Town has had anywhere near the same level of impact.

Mullin finished last season as the second-highest scorer in League Two with 23 goals, despite missing the first six weeks of the season.

The only player ahead of him was Notts County's Macaulay Langstaff, whose 28-goal tally earned him a big move to Championship side Milwall during the summer.

However, as per BBC Sport, Mullin had the better minutes-per-goal ratio of 126, compared to Langstaff's 144, with the Liverpudlian playing eight fewer games.

Not only does he provide a lethal presence up front, Mullin's work rate is also impeccable, and his pressing is key to how they play.

The most likely stand-in for Mullin in the early stages of the season will be Marriott.

Despite strengthening in several positions, Parkinson has yet to make an attacking signing this summer.

Veteran striker Steven Fletcher is currently sidelined through injury, while the likes of Ollie Palmer and Sam Dalby generally serve as a partner for Mullin up front.

Youngster Jake Bickerstaff has been linked with a move away from the club, as per journalist Peter O'Rourke, while ex-Barrow man Billy Waters is way down the pecking order after being loaned out to Doncaster in January.

it means Marriott is the only real standout candidate Wrexham currently have to deputise for their star man.

In Marriott's favour, the former Derby County man's pre-season performances have been encouraging after featuring in the starting XI in all but one of their pre-season friendlies.

In the one game where he started on the bench, he came on to score Wrexham's second goal as they drew 2-2 with Premier League outfit Chelsea during their tour of the US.

And in their final warm-up match against Fleetwood, he came close to netting on several occasions, getting himself into some good positions.

Marriott must turn back clock to help Wrexham out

Marriott's pedigree earlier in his career is there for all to see, but his goal tally has gradually declined in the last few years.

Before joining Wrexham, he netted just five times for Fleetwood in League One in the first half of last season.

Despite making 17 appearances for the Red Dragons since January, his only goal in League Two came against Forest Green in a 6-0 drubbing which confirmed Parkinson's side's promotion to the third tier.

Wrexham will therefore need him to come much closer to replicating his early career form to help them start the new campaign on the front foot in Mullin's absence.