Ollie Rathbone previously won Player of the Season. Credit: @_rathbone Instagram
Ollie Rathbone was named Wrexham’s Player of the Season just months ago, but that counts for nothing in the Championship. The 29-year-old midfielder has not been included in the matchday squad for the last three league games, and Phil Parkinson’s side have been unbeaten in five without him.
This is not about Rathbone’s ability or commitment. It is about the reality of Championship football and the standards Wrexham now demand. The midfielder helped secure a third successive promotion last season, but that achievement has already been filed away.
Parkinson has options in midfield, and those options are delivering results. Rathbone must now prove he deserves to displace players who have kept Wrexham competitive at this level.
Rathbone’s injury derailed his season before it started
The midfielder sustained an ankle injury during the pre-season tour in Australia. That setback cost him crucial preparation time while his teammates bedded into Championship football.
Rathbone made his comeback in the League Cup defeat to Cardiff City on October 28. He started the fourth round tie but was withdrawn at half-time as Parkinson managed his return.
Since that 45-minute cameo, Rathbone has not featured in a single Championship matchday squad. The team moved on without him, and they have not looked back.
Embed from Getty ImagesWrexham’s midfield has thrived in his absence
Ben Sheaf, Matty James, George Dobson, Lewis O’Brien and George Thomason have all been competing for places in central midfield. Each has earned regular game-time through performances, not reputation.
Wrexham are unbeaten in five league outings and have climbed to 13th in the Championship. That form makes it impossible for Parkinson to justify disrupting a winning formula.
Rathbone is no longer walking back into this team. He is competing against five midfielders who have already proven they belong at this level.
Previous accolades carry no weight at Championship level
Winning Player of the Season in League One was a deserved recognition of Rathbone’s influence. He was instrumental in Wrexham’s promotion charge and his energy drove the team forward week after week.
But the Championship is a different beast entirely. The pace is quicker, the physicality is greater, and the margin for error is smaller. What worked in League One does not automatically translate.
Rathbone’s trophy is a reminder of what he achieved, not a guarantee of what comes next. Parkinson picks his squad based on current form and fitness, not past glories.
Parkinson confirms Rathbone is fit and pushing hard in training
The good news for Rathbone is that Parkinson confirmed he is fit and has had no setbacks. The ankle injury is behind him, and he is training at full capacity with the first team squad.
Parkinson revealed that Rathbone scored the winning goal in an in-house game last Tuesday. The manager has noticed his efforts and praised his attitude during this difficult period.
“He is chomping at the bit basically to be involved,” Parkinson said. “But with Sheafy, James, O’Brien, Thomason and Dobson, there is a lot of competition in there.”
That quote tells the whole story. Rathbone wants to play, but wanting is not enough. He must force his way past five quality midfielders who are already delivering.
Rathbone’s situation is not a punishment or an insult. It is proof that Wrexham have built a squad capable of competing without their best player from last season. The midfielder will get his chance eventually, but he must seize it when it arrives. His Player of the Season award looks impressive on the shelf, but it will not win him a starting spot in November.
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