Beloved Wrexham Star Shocks Fans with Dramatic Boxing Day Comeback
Wrexham's attacking midfielder Jay Rodriguez has been added to Phil Parkinson's 25-man roster, taking the place of the sidelined Elliot Lee, as announced by the club.
Lee, who is currently rehabilitating from knee surgery, was temporarily removed from the squad to accommodate Rodriguez's much-anticipated comeback. The 36-year-old veteran hasn't played since April due to an ankle problem.
Wrexham has now announced that Rodriguez is ready for team selection as they approach the busy festive fixture list. Between Boxing Day and January 4th, the Welsh side will contest four games, starting with their encounter against Sheffield United on December 26th.
Rodriguez quickly won over supporters at STōK Cae Ras despite his late February arrival. After settling in with the Red Dragons, the English player became instrumental in the club's successful push for automatic Championship promotion.
From his four goal involvements, three were decisive in securing wins for Parkinson's team. Rodriguez provided assists for victories over Rotherham and Blackpool, and scored the winning goal against Stockport County. While the statistics may seem modest, those crucial nine points proved vital in Wrexham's 2024–25 League One journey.
Wrexham's Upcoming Four Fixtures Could Determine Promotion Ambitions
The ambitious goal for Wales' oldest football club is to achieve an unprecedented fourth straight promotion and reach the Premier League for next season. However, Wrexham currently finds itself in 15th position in the Championship table.
The encouraging aspect for Parkinson's squad is their proximity to the playoff positions, sitting just seven points away. An impressive festive period performance could propel the Red Dragons up the rankings, though they face challenging opposition ahead.
Game | Date | Competition |
|---|---|---|
Sheffield United (H) | Dec. 26 | Championship |
Preston North End (H) | Dec. 29 | Championship |
Blackburn Rovers (A) | Jan. 1 | Championship |
Derby County (A) | Jan. 4 | Championship |
Wrexham enters the holiday schedule without a victory in their previous five outings. The team managed only stalemates against Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End and Watford, while suffering losses to Hull City and Swansea City.
A consistent pattern in these recent disappointing performances has been the team's offensive struggles; the Welsh club scored multiple goals just once throughout December. Parkinson hopes Rodriguez's return will provide his squad with an attacking boost from the substitutes' bench if their creative difficulties persist.