Can Paul Mullin cut it for Wrexham in League One?
It’s not exactly been a November to remember so far for Wrexham or their marksman from seasons past.
Since joining the club in July 2021, Paul Mullin has been nothing short of extraordinary for this team, quickly becoming their star striker and finding the back of the net with ease to take him beyond 100 for the club.
That has yet to be the case for him so far in 2024-25, with the 30-year-old Welshman netting just once in 13 appearances, and his team winning just one of their four matches across all competitions this month.
Not only is he struggling to score but he’s rarely played a part in Wrexham’s goals since returning from off-season surgery on his spine.
Mullin has rarely struggled this much at Wrexham, though the former National League and League Two golden boot winner doesn’t have a track record of success in League One to fall back on.
Paul Mullin’s League One numbers
Coming into this campaign everyone expected Mullin to pick up where he left off in League Two, leading the Dragons with 24 goals last season.
If you look at his previous League One stats, however, his current form may not be such a massive shock.
Mullin only had 20 games of experience at this level before the start of this season, scoring just three times for Tranmere Rovers in 905 minutes of action in 2019-20.
Crisis of confidence?
Many may recognise Mullin only for his goals, but the truth is he’s a versatile striker who’s so much more than just a finisher.
His hulking presence in the box, link-up play with Ollie Palmer and others in seasons past, plus his form in front of goal, played a big part in this team’s ascension up the EFL pyramid.
He’s not doing any of those things well at present, with just one goal contribution in the league thus far.
Phil Parkinson evidently noted his struggles, choosing to drop him to the bench to begin their defeat at Stockport County last week.
Mullin’s had his share of opportunities, taking 26 shots and boasting a 2.9 expected goals rate in League One per FOTMOB, with many of those efforts being from close range.
Whatever the problem, he’ll need to find a solution fast with Wrexham in desperate need of goals, scoring one or fewer in each game during this month.
Quality strikers are in short supply for the Dragons now, as Steven Fletcher and Jack Marriott are unavailable through injury, and getting Mullin firing is the top priority.
What does Mullin need?
The easy answer to what Mullin needs is confidence… but there may be more to his struggles than that.
He’s also not had great service this season, as Wrexham have an XG of only 1.24 in League One, according to footystats.
More playing time may help, but with a striker like Mullin, all it may take is a cheap goal or a penalty to get himself back on track and in the groove.
It’s not the first time he’s had a slump, and Mullin has always responded well to adversity. And on top of it all he’s got plenty still to prove in League One, further motivation to shut his critics up in the coming weeks.
