Why is Paul Mullin not playing for Wrexham? Striker’s absence a ‘horrible effect of success’
Paul Mullin was once the undisputed star of Wrexham's charge up the EFL, but continues to be conspicuous by his absence this season.
The 30-year-old has missed out on the last 16 games, only featuring in a matchday squad for the Red Dragons once in that period.
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Four years ago, Mullin turned down a deal with Cambridge United in favour of dropping multiple divisions to join Wrexham in the National League.
The striker has scored over 100 goals for the Welsh outfit since his arrival in 2021 to fire the fallen giants back into the EFL.
Mullin has become a massive cult hero on and off the pitch, thanks in part to his starring role in Wrexham's Disney documentary.
His popularity led to co-owner Ryan Reynolds even casting him as part of his Deadpool vs Wolverine movie as 'Welshpool'.
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Mullin was left out again as Wrexham look to seal Championship promotion, as his fairytale seems to have come to an abrupt stop.
He wasn't involved against Charlton, meaning he hasn't been in the matchday squad since February.
Why is Mullin not playing for Wrexham?
Although not confirmed, the forward's exile has been simply selection-based, with the depth of attacking options at the club.
In January, Wrexham spent £2million to sign Sam Smith from Reading, while ex-Burnley star Jay Rodriguez was also recruited.
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Despite the pair's slow goal-scoring start at the SToK Cae Ras, their pedigree have pushed Mullin down the pecking order.
Phil Parkinson also has ex-Premier League forward Steven Fletcher, as well as Jack Marriott and Ollie Palmer, among his options.
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Mullin has faced criticism that the step up in level to League One has proven too high for him after years of playing in the divisions below.
He had suffered from an injury at the start of the campaign, missing multiple games after undergoing surgery on his back.
On top of that, he then suffered a shin issue, but the first half of this season was also dominated by his struggles in front of goal.
He has not appeared at all in any league game since January 28 and only made nine starts all campaign - scoring three goals.
His last outing came as a substitute in the semi-finals of the EFL trophy against Peterborough United in March.
Unfortunately for Mullin, it proved to be a nightmare appearance, as he missed his penalty in a shootout to his old Cambridgeshire rivals and ended owners Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wembley dream.
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The Dragons' executive director, Humphrey Ker, has given an insight on Mullin's fall from the face of the club.
The actor and writer joined Jim White and Simon Jordan on talkSPORT ahead of the launch of the latest season of 'Welcome to Wrexham’.
Discussing Mullin's current situation, Ker said: “It’s one of the horrible effects of the success we’ve had that there is turnover that’s high at a football club that’s moving through these situations, Paul has made 25 appearances this season and as the season’s gone on ultimately Phil’s picking a side that’s won nine out of our last 11 games so it just becomes more difficult to force your way back in.
“With Paul I just think he’s had two very disrupted pre-seasons in a row, he broke his ribs and punctured a lung two summers ago this summer he had back surgery, I think that perhaps what he needs more than anything is a massive, massive pre-season this year, essentially not have an off season and work extra double hard and hopefully force his way back into a team that fingers crossed will be in the Championship.”
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Despite this, EFL star Joe Jacobson believes that the striker at the end of the season.
Speaking to Football League World, he said: “Teams just move on, players move on. People jumped on the Wrexham bandwagon a few years ago in the National League and he was one of those players, like Elliot Lee, who dropped down and probably shouldn't have done.
"They were better than the level. But you understand why they did it. They moved out the players that were there and, all of a sudden, they're at the top end of League One and there are players moving those guys out.
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“So, I don't necessarily think he needs to be there, because if they go to the Championship, then they'll sign again.
"They'll go big again and he's already fifth choice at best at the minute and if they sign more, then that's only going to go down. For his own sake, does he want to stay at a club where he is not really playing very much?”
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