Paul Mullin returns to non-contact training at Wrexham following injury
Emily Baldwin Paul Mullin, Wrexham’s goalscoring talisman, has returned to non-contact training, manager Phil Parkinson has revealed.
He had to remain behind when the rest of the squad flew home on July 28 to allow the lung to heal before visiting a specialist on his return to the UK.
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“Mulls is back on the training ground,” said Parkinson after Wrexham’s penalty shoot-out loss to Bradford City in the Carabao Cup. “Each day he gets stronger. He has had a long period of inactivity.
“But he is out back running on the training ground, doing unopposed stuff, finishing etc. He is looking good.”
No date has been put on a likely return for Wrexham’s goalscoring talisman, though it is likely to be a few weeks with the ribs needing to fully heal.
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But the news he is back in training will be a welcome boost following Tuesday night’s controversial exit from the Cup to Bradford.
A second minute penalty awarded to the visitors left Parkinson incensed, referee Ben Speedie judging Aaron Hayden to have fouled Jamie Walker inside the area.
Tyler Smith duly converted the penalty, which was cancelled out in the second half by Will Boyle’s headed goal from a corner to send the second round tie to penalties.
Bradford triumphed 4-3 in the shoot-out, adding to Parkinson’s frustration at what he insists was the wrong call.
He said: “We had a League Managers’ meeting, which (Professional Game Match Officials Limited chief executive) Howard Webb spoke well at. He talked about a higher tolerance level for nudges and pushed and things like that.
“On Saturday (at Barrow), Elliot Lee is running through and gets pushed to the floor — which I thought was a free-kick. But the referee said to me at the end, ‘Phil, you were at the meeting about the high tolerance level’. I said, ‘Ok’.
“Tonight, for an absolute nothing incident, the ref has given a penalty. That’s the first point. The second point is he has four players in between him and the incident.
“He (ref) has told me he gave it. But there is absolutely no way he can see it, so he has clearly guessed. The third point is the linesman has the best view of all.
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“I feel a little bit aggrieved at how that decision has come about.”
Mark Hughes, the Bradford manager, felt the penalty was the correct call.
“Some people may be surprised because you don’t usually see those given,” said the former Wales international.”But he was impeded and it was a foul.”
Parkinson, however, remains adamant that the decision was wrong. He added: “There is a half hour cooling off period (for speaking to refs) and it’s probably a good job there is because I can’t wait to go in there and sit down with him and the assessor.
“And ask them how they came to that decision. We will have a chat and I want an explanation. I don’t mind if people get decisions wrong. But I have seen the footage and he clearly can’t see it. I want to know what went through his mind to give that decision.”
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(Photo: Oli Scarf/AFP via Getty Images)
