'Iconic' Palmer's two goals a reminder for Parkinson

Ollie Palmer joined Wrexham from Wimbledon in January 2022

Phil Parkinson hailed two-goal hero Ollie Palmer – who gave the Wrexham manager plenty to ponder before his 25-man squad for the season has to be submitted.

Wrexham beat Hull City in an EFL Cup first-round thriller after substitute Palmer's two stoppage-time goals sent the tie into a penalty shootout.

Palmer, 33, is in the final year of his contract at Wrexham and his substitute's appearance against Hull was his first competitive fixture since early February.

"I'm so pleased for him because he's been an iconic player for us over the last three or four years and the supporters love him," Parkinson told BBC Sport Wales.

"When we made the decision to bring players in in January, I explained why I felt we needed to add an extra impetus into the team – and it worked because we got promotion and the two up front did really well.

"But he kept working on the training pitch and kept contributing in the dressing room.

"I've always said to him that you've got as much respect for that as what you've done in terms of as a player.

"Of course, he wants to stay and be a part of it and we'll see how we go on in the next few weeks of the transfer window.

"I don't think Ollie could have done much more tonight, and that impact from the bench we've seen over many years is so important."

Forwards Kieffer Moore, Josh Windass and Ryan Hardie have arrived at Wrexham during the close season meaning Palmer – who signed from Wimbledon in January 2022 – is further down the pecking order.

Parkinson had suggested ahead of the new season that Palmer was among a number of players who could depart the club over the coming weeks.

Wrexham are waiting to discover the full extend of Moore's ankle injury that he sustained in the opening day loss at Southampton, although Parkinson did say it was not serious.

So could Moore's absence could open up an opportunity for Palmer rather than force Parkinson to dip into the transfer market?

"There's no better way to put yourself back in the picture than how Ollie Palmer did it last night," former Wales, Norwich City and Leicester City striker Iwan Roberts told BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast.

"He was fifth or sixth choice among the striking options with all of those that had come into the club.

"Two great headers, I thought the game was over when [Matt] Crooks scored Hull's third.

"He (Palmer) came on the pitch on around 70 minutes and he was the difference in making sure Wrexham took the game to penalties."