Kieffer Moore needs attacking support.
Wrexham’s over-reliance on Kieffer Moore exposes the reality Phil Parkinson cannot ignore heading into January. Moore remains irreplaceable in this squad, and that dependence will eventually cost points when fatigue, suspension or injury arrives at the worst possible moment.
Parkinson’s side sit 14th in the Championship table after collecting points consistently through draws rather than wins. The pattern reveals itself across multiple matches where Wrexham control possession but lack ruthlessness when decisive moments arrive.
Moore has scored eight Championship goals this season in 20 games and provides everything Parkinson demands from a target man. But one striker carrying that burden across 46 league matches plus Wales internationals creates unsustainable workload that will break down eventually.
The margins in this division are too fine to rely on one player when opportunities are limited. January offers the chance to address squad depth before Moore’s inevitable absence costs Wrexham points they cannot afford to drop.
No comparable alternative when Moore needs rest or gets suspended
Moore defends set pieces, holds up play, and creates space for others to operate between the lines. His eight goals represent consistent output from a striker who plays almost every minute of every match.
But Moore cannot sustain this workload across a Championship season that includes international breaks where Wales will need him and cup competitions. He will start every game he is fit to start, probably play at least 80 minutes in each, then report for international duty where another 180 minutes await.
The schedule becomes unsustainable by February, and Wrexham possess no alternative who offers even half of what Moore brings. Sam Smith works hard and Ryan Hardie’s opportunities have diminished to the point where his next start might arrive in the FA Cup.
Embed from Getty ImagesThat is not criticism of either player but recognition that Championship football demands more than effort alone. Smith is adequate as a deputy, but adequate does not convert narrow leads into three points when matches tighten late on.
Wrexham need a striker who scores 20 goals at this level, someone who finishes half-chances that others waste. Carlton Morris has already reached double figures for Derby County this season, proving exactly that clinical edge in front of goal.
Moore will accumulate yellow cards just from aerial challenges, and a two-match suspension could arrive at any point. Without a genuine alternative, Wrexham’s form collapses when he is unavailable for any reason.
Wrexham need pace and penetration Moore cannot provide
Championship defences have worked out how to neutralise Moore by sitting deep and forcing Wrexham to create through intricate passing rather than direct running. Moore is not built for running in behind, and his strengths lie elsewhere.
But teams that defend deep require a different striker profile entirely. A forward with genuine pace changes how opponents defend by threatening the space behind the last defender rather than coming short to receive possession.
Suddenly defences cannot push up as high, cannot commit numbers forward as freely, cannot afford to leave space in behind because one ball over the top creates a footrace they will lose. That fundamental shift opens opportunities across the pitch.
Joe Gelhardt at Hull offers that threat. Thomas Asante provides it for Derby alongside Morris. Wrexham lack anyone in the squad who forces defenders to retreat rather than advance, and that limits tactical flexibility when Parkinson needs to change approach mid-match.
Embed from Getty ImagesApollo Sports Capital’s investment removes financial barriers that previously prevented Wrexham from competing for Championship-proven strikers mid-season. Clubs protect their best players in January, but money talks when owners need to balance books or squads require trimming.
Wrexham remain within touching distance of the playoff positions despite drawing too many matches where three points looked achievable. January offers the chance to add a striker who turns those draws into wins, who provides the pace Moore cannot, who scores the goals that define promotion challenges.
Missing that opportunity means accepting mid-table security when the resources exist to aim higher. Moore cannot carry this burden alone, and pretending otherwise just delays the inevitable breakdown when his body or the referee’s cards force Parkinson’s hand.
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