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Topics: Wrexham, Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney
Josh Lawless
For the second successive summer, Wrexham have been hit with a major injury blow involving talisman Paul Mullin.
Last year, the striker suffered a punctured lung in a pre-season game against Manchester United after a collision with Nathan Bishop.
He ended up being sidelined until September but still scored 24 goals in 38 appearances as the Red Dragons secured back-to-back promotions into League One.
Ahead of another lucrative pre-season tour of the United States, Mullin is facing another spell on the sidelines.
Wrexham have confirmed he has undergone spinal surgery in a bid to overcome "a long-term lower-back and hamstring issue".
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He will therefore miss the pre-season trip, which includes games against Bournemouth, Chelsea and Vancouver Whitecaps.
With Mullin potentially not fit for the start of the League One campaign, Wrexham may well need a replacement and here are five potential options for Phil Parkinson.
The obvious choice for Wrexham would be Macaulay Langstaff, who actually outscored Mullin in the last two seasons for Notts County.
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He has been a top target for Wrexham for a while now and a club-record deal has been mooted.
However the former Gateshead man does also have strong interest from Millwall and Swansea.
Incidentally, it's a Millwall striker who is also being courted by Wrexham. Tom Bradshaw is a man in demand and the Welsh international could be the perfect addition.
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However, Millwall boss Neil Harris does not see him moving on.
Commenting on speculation to the South London Press, he said:
Then, 48 hours later, someone puts it out that Tom Bradshaw has been linked with various clubs. I did read that and have a little chuckle to myself.
“He [Bradshaw] is an infectious character. He gives a real energy and buzz around the place. I’ve really enjoyed coming back and working with Tom because he has developed so much as a character and a player since I signed him seven years ago.
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"His game has slightly changed now. I look forward to continue working with him. Tom is with us and a massive part of the plans moving forward.”
A tempting free agent option could be former Sunderland and Crystal Palace striker Connor Wickham, who was released by Charlton Athletic.
He only signed a short-term deal with the Addicks in March following a two-week training period.
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Wickham scored once in four appearances in the brief spell and the 31-year-old would bring Premier League pedigree.
He is also a former teammate of current Wrexham frontman Steven Fletcher.
A younger and more exciting alternative would be 25-year-old Ronan Hale, who has Ross County and a slew of EFL clubs chasing him after scoring 50 goals in 80 appearances for Cliftonville in Northern Ireland.
Wrexham were linked back with the former Birmingham City youngster back in January.
And lastly, another appealing free agent could be on the cards in the form of Stephen Humphrys.
The 26-year-old was reportedly the subject of a bid from Wrexham in January but he ended up staying with Wigan.
However, Wigan announced in May that he would leave the club after failing to agree a new contract.
Wrexham could go back in for him and attempt to bring in without owing a fee.