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Wrexham forward Mo Faal delivered a well-timed display of his raw ability after netting a stunning late winner for loan side Cheltenham Town during the midweek fixture.
The 23-year-old was making only his fourth substitute outing for League Two outfit Cheltenham, whom he joined on a temporary basis during the January transfer window. Faal proved decisive off the bench when he unleashed a powerful volley from outside the area in the 95th minute to seal a 2-1 victory against Gillingham.
Faal arrived at Wrexham amid considerable fanfare but failed to establish himself at senior level under boss Phil Parkinson. He managed just 16 appearances throughout his debut campaign, with only half coming in the league, and failed to start a single League One fixture.
Faal Scores Wonder Goal
What a strike to win it in stoppage time! 🔥#ctfc♦️ pic.twitter.com/n0L5gmjAZe
Mo Faal is eager to make the most of the remaining weeks of the campaign with loan club Cheltenham Town. Despite joining the League Two outfit in early February, the striker didn't make his debut for his temporary side until the beginning of this month.
Faal's loan agreement runs only until the end of the season, after which he will return to his parent club ahead of the summer transfer window. Cheltenham have just four games remaining in their League Two schedule.
"It was an incredible finish, wasn't it. Really pleased with that," said Cheltenham boss Steve Cotterill following the victory. "Mo couldn't train on Monday because he was feeling under the weather. We were hoping he'd be alright, but he had a bit of a stomach bug, so we didn't see him on Monday."
"Thankfully, he showed up and was fine today. Let's hope he gets that stomach bug before every game, eh! I thought he was excellent when he came on tonight."
What Next for Faal at Wrexham?
Mo Faal may be handed a fresh chance to impress in a Wrexham shirt during pre-season, though he faces a tough battle to force his way into the first-team picture next campaign.
The 23-year-old has one year remaining on his current contract, with the club holding an option to extend his deal by a further year should they choose to. Faal joined Wrexham for what was then a club-record fee of $680,000 (£500,000) from West Bromwich Albion back in August 2024.
The Gambian forward netted three times during his debut season in North Wales as the club earned promotion from League One to the Championship, though his development was disrupted by injury. A loan spell at Port Vale was cut short earlier in the campaign before he linked up with League Two side Cheltenham Town for the rest of the season.
Faal seems most likely to head out on loan again this summer, with the club expected to pass on triggering their extension option in his contract. Wrexham may also weigh up a permanent sale, given the risk of losing him on a free transfer when his deal expires in June 2027.
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Rich Fay is a Sports Illustrated freelance writer covering Wrexham AFC. He was born in Wrexham and raised in North Wales, but spent nine years covering Manchester United and Manchester City for the Manchester Evening News and National World. Rich is also the co-host of the RobRyanRed Wrexham podcast and featured in the Welcome to Wrexham docuseries. When he is not at matches, he is a keen hiker as well as a cook, and thinks he would do surprisingly well on the Great British Bake Off.