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While two Hollywood stars run things off the pitch, the men representing Wrexham on the grass are currently basking in the limelight themselves.
With an incredible hike in global interest and fandom have come exciting times on the field for the Welsh club and, alongside their push for a return to the Football League, Wrexham, with their famous heritage in the competition, are gunning on the FA Cup front too.
A typically magnificent FA Cup third-round tie saw them overcome Coventry – a side three divisions above them – 4-3 away from home and seal their place in the fourth round for the first time since 2000.
Another tough bout against Championship opposition awaits, with Sheffield United travelling across the border to meet the Red Dragons at the Racecourse. The club are visibly inspired by a number of factors, but who are the players leading their FA Cup charge?
36-year-old Mark Howard is a mainstay in the Wrexham goal and it’s easy to see why when judging him by his 2022/23 FA Cup showings thus far.
The goalkeeper might have kept just one clean sheet in the five games his side has played in the competition so far this campaign, but he’s an integral part of their progression, regularly proving reliable when called upon.
He might have conceded three times at Coventry (through little fault of his own, it must be said), but standout moments in the first and second rounds have proved vital to the Red Dragons’ progression.
Just as pivotal is the dynamism and offensive output of their left wing-back, Callum McFadzean – a Sheffield United youth product.
Undoubtedly capable of playing at a higher level, the Wrexham number three has played his part in successful EFL teams and has an EFL Trophy to his name; his performances so far throughout the 2022/23 campaign have reflected his quality.
Although not always a starter in the league, he’s been a stalwart when it comes to FA Cup matters – and, with three assists in the last two rounds, he’ll be a cause for concern for the Blades next time out.
Also plying his trade below his individual standard is central midfielder Elliot Lee, a coup for Wrexham when they brought him in from Luton in the summer.
Since his arrival in North Wales, Lee has scored seven times in all competitions from the middle of the park, with two of his strikes coming in the FA Cup.
He’s scored in each of the last two rounds – an absolute stunner to turn the scoreline around against Farnborough before another bit of magic to put Wrexham 2-0 up at Coventry in the third round – to demonstrate his importance at the heart of Phil Parkinson’s team.
When looking at Sam Dalby’s FA Cup contributions this term, it’s absolutely staggering to think he’s a bit-part figure in the National League. He’s been given just 162 minutes of league action so far this season (scoring once) but has started in each of the previous three rounds on the FA Cup front.
Parkinson has a lot of attacking quality at his disposal – Ollie Palmer, for example, has had a starring role in the National League as well as making valuable contributions in the Cup – but it’s been Dalby to provide the killer backup to their leading man (more on him in a bit).
A goal and assist at second-tier Coventry last time out brought him onto a whopping five goal contributions in the FA Cup so far this campaign – he’s a massive danger man up front.
Not as dangerous as Paul Mullin, however.
A podiatric activist, a bit of a throwback and, above all, a fantastic goal-scorer, Mullin boasts 43 goals in 62 league appearances since joining Wrexham in the summer of 2021, and the 2022/23 FA Cup has felt his wrath.
A goal in the fourth qualifying round reply against Blythe Spartans helped his side through to the first round via a 3-2 victory and, since then, he’s simply continued scoring. Two strikes in a 3-0 win over Oldham, a hat-trick in Wrexham’s 4-1 thrashing of Farnborough and one last time out against Coventry have given him a tally of seven in five in this season’s FA Cup.
It’s really no secret where the danger lies in this Wrexham side but, so far, not even second-tier opposition has managed to contain him. Over to you, Sheffield United.
