Phil Parkinson faces a huge selection dilemma ahead of Wrexham’s clash against Mansfield with James McClean returning from suspension.
A mouth-watering clash will take centre stage in League Two on Good Friday as Wrexham host league leaders Mansfield Town.
The fixture is big for many reasons as one fan is travelling from Mansfield to Wrexham on foot for charity and the Reds are currently three points behind the Stags.
Matches at this level don’t come much bigger than this one and after comfortably beating Grimsby Town 3-1 on Saturday, Phil Parkinson‘s men should arrive full of confidence.
As the age-old adage goes, you should never change a winning team but with James McClean back from suspension, Parkinson may have to discard that rule.
James McClean is back from suspension against Mansfield
McClean received a two-match suspension after picking up his 10th yellow card of the season in the goalless draw against Harrogate Town two weeks ago.
This meant the 34-year-old missed the 1-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers and the win over Grimsby but he’s back in contention to start against Mansfield.
McClean was arguably Parkinson’s most important player before suffering suspension having flourished as a central midfielder.
The former Premier League star was used as a left wing-back for most of the season, but shoehorning him into the engine room worked wonders.
He picked up an impressive two goals and two assists in five matches as a midfielder while offering so much technical quality, relentless energy and leadership.
It seems an obvious decision to throw him straight into the starting XI against the Stags, however, deciding who to drop him for makes it increasingly difficult.
Who Phil Parkinson could drop for James McClean against Mansfield
After watching a midfield three of Thomas O’Connor, Andy Cannon and Elliot Lee dominate against the Mariners, Parkinson is left with the unenviable task of dropping one or leaving McClean out.
Cannon is certainly immune from getting dropped having scored two wonderful goals at Blundell Park.
Meanwhile, O’Connor looked excellent on his return to the starting XI following injury and even assisted Cannon for his second goal.
Parkinson could rest the returning O’Connor to ease him back into proceedings, although he could also consider dropping Lee.
The 29-year-old’s drop-off in form has been alarming. After scoring 13 in his opening 23 matches, he’s found the net just twice in his last 17 league outings.
Lee was also poor on and off the ball in the win over Grimsby, winning just two his nine ground duels, misplacing his four attempted long balls and recording a pass completion of 64%.
The West Ham academy graduate has played a lot of football this term, so a drop-off in form is excusable, however, perhaps he could benefit from a rest by dropping to the bench for McClean.
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