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Phil Parkinson says attacking reinforcements are a priority as his Wrexham squad looks to move up the Championship standings following the November international break.
The Red Dragons currently occupy 15th place in the table but sit just six points behind the final playoff spot and eight points clear of the drop zone. This mirrors their position from last season, when they were 12th at the same point before finishing seventh thanks to a strong run of festive fixtures.
Wrexham demonstrated real character to pull off a surprise win against Middlesbrough last week before earning a draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend. Those results were made all the more remarkable given the serious injury sustained by Sam Smith, which has left Parkinson short of four attacking players.
Smith faces the remainder of the season on the sidelines after his knee injury, though Wrexham could receive a timely lift with three attacking players potentially returning in the near future.
Wrexham Eye Triple Injury Boost
Wrexham are also missing last season's leading scorer Josh Windass, who picked up an ankle injury against Derby County last month. Nathan Broadhead is out with a thigh problem, while Callum O'Hare is also dealing with an ankle complaint.
Parkinson found solutions from within the squad last week but acknowledges that having more attacking options available for substitutions would be a major advantage.
"I think for us, Windass, Broady and O'Hare, we need to get those three available now. That is the key," he told Sports Illustrated.
"While we have been waiting for some key players to come back, other players have stepped up brilliantly. [Lewis] O'Brien today [against Wolves], [George Thomason] Tommo and [Ollie] Rathbone the other day [against Middlesbrough]. But obviously, in this division, when we have a lot of midweek games, having options to bring three attacking players on and take three attacking players off can make a huge difference in a game. We did it a lot last season, and it won us games.
"The medical department will have their own plan this week, while other players will need some time and deserve it after these performances, so there will be a few days off.
"As I stressed to the lads on Monday, we have always had a culture here where you've got to earn your time off. This is a serious business, and when the lads have a couple of days off next week, I feel they have earned it with the last two performances. That's what it is all about; it is a hard, competitive industry, and we have got to make sure we have a real hunger and determination in the group."
Wrexham Injury Latest and Predicted Return Dates
Nathan Broadhead
Broadhead picked up a thigh strain in training ahead of the October international break. He was not named in the Wales squad for the current international window and is unlikely to feature this month. There is optimism that he could be fit again at the beginning of December.
Liberato Cacace
Cacace has been absent since preseason due to a persistent injury problem. The New Zealand international has made only 13 appearances since arriving at Wrexham a year ago and recently consulted a specialist in London in a bid to identify the root cause of his ongoing fitness issues.
Callum O'Hare
O'Hare picked up an ankle injury in the recent loss to Blackburn Rovers, which then flared up again the following week. He has sat out the last three games, with some concern that the problem could be more serious than first thought. The hope is that he will return before the year is out.
Seb Revan
Revan has been out of action since sustaining a serious hamstring injury while on loan at Burton Albion in February. He is nearing a return to fitness and is expected to be made available for a loan move in the January transfer window. His deal at the club runs out at the end of the season.
Sam Smith
Smith is set to go under the knife this week after suffering an ACL injury against Sheffield United. The forward has been ruled out for an initial nine-month period and is not anticipated to play any further part this season. He will be targeting a return for preseason next summer.
Josh Windass
Windass experienced a setback in his recovery from an ankle injury and has yet to rejoin full team training. There is hope he could be available following the international break, though he may not be ready to play until early December.