Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has been urged to reignite his pursuit of a Premier League attacker to kickstart the club's promotion charge. The Hollywood-backed Red Dragons find themselves in 16th place in the Championship after ten matches, having gathered 11 points following a disappointing 2-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.
Wrexham blew a lead after Kieffer Moore's sensational opener, leaving them sitting five points off the play-offs. With the team scoring 11 and shipping 15, numbers nearly mirroring their position at this milestone last term, questions are mounting over whether Parkinson's side possess enough firepower to mount a push for another promotion.
Phillips backs winter move for Nmecha
Speaking exclusively to the Star via BestBettingSites.co.uk, former Sunderland and England goal-machine Kevin Phillips backed a winter move for Leeds United outcast Lukas Nmecha.
"Nmecha would be a good one, I think," Phillips said. "He knows the league, has been at Leeds; it's not quite worked out - it might be that one move that he needs to get goals. He can score goals."
Wrexham actively pursued the 27-year-old German international over the summer in an ambitious attempt to lure him from Elland Road to North Wales. The former Manchester City academy graduate boasts second-tier experience from loan spells with Preston and Middlesbrough and scored six top-flight goals in 31 appearances for Leeds last season.
Farke blocked summer switch
However, Elland Road chief Daniel Farke blocked the summer switch to retain Nmecha as cover for main striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Despite making seven appearances so far this term, the forward, who is under contract until June 2027, could potentially make a mid-season move which would benefit all parties.
Phillips also evaluated other options who were on Wrexham's radar during the last transfer window, including Coventry's Ellis Simms and Senegal goalscorer Bamba Dieng, but believes Parkinson will prioritise adding quality upfront.
He said: "Ellis Simms has got that experience; he's been around for a while now, but is he really that out-and-out prolific goalscorer? And Dieng, I don't know too much about him, has scored quite a few goals where he's been."
"But it's certainly an area that I think Phil will look at, because Wrexham are going to really have a go at it this season."
Moore and Smith partnership debate
Debate also continues over whether current frontmen Moore and Sam Smith carry sufficient firepower for the run-in. Phillips remains confident in the pairing.
"I think they do, if you play to their strengths," Phillips added. "Phil Parkinson likes to play with that one striker, normally a solid one, that link player, and they're both like that, especially Kieffer Moore."
"They need to get on a little run, whoever's playing, and try to score. Kieffer scored in the last game for Wrexham, so that'll do him the world of good...but it'd be interesting to see come the January window whether they look in that area."
Addressing calls from Racecourse supporters to start Moore and Smith together, Phillips doubts Parkinson will alter his proven strategy.
"If you ask most of the fans, they'd all say, yeah, have a crack at it. But managers have their systems, and generally they put that two on when they're chasing a game."
"I think a lot of people, and I'd like to see it more, want to see clubs start with two out-and-out strikers - good opportunities to get more goals."
"But I don't think Phil will probably go down that route, because what he's been doing has been fairly successful over the years, so I don't think we can really argue with it. But it would be nice to see."
