PHIL PARKINSON will evaluate Arthur Okonkwo before deciding whether he will play against Yeovil Town this weekend, but he has not ruled out resting the goalkeeper for the FA Cup tie at The Racecourse.
Okonkwo, who joined Wrexham on a season-long loan from Arsenal, has taken over as first-choice goalkeeper from Mark Howard.
The 22-year-old took a blow to the jaw in the first period of his 11th League Two appearance for the Reds against Harrogate Town on Tuesday but continued after receiving treatment.
However, Okonkwo did not play in the second half, with Howard coming off the bench, and he will be evaluated before Sunday’s second-round match against the National League South leaders.
“Arthur got whacked in the jaw, which was a shame for him,” said Parkinson, who saw second-placed Wrexham throw away a two-goal lead and draw 2-2 at Wetherby Road. “We will check him out. I don’t think it is too serious but he was a bit dazed at halftime, so the medical team felt it was the right thing to bring him off. “I am not a physio; I have got to go with their judgment, but that didn’t cost us.
“I can’t fault Mark for the goal, and he has nothing to do, really.” Okonkwo has not missed a league game since coming into the side for the 3-3 draw with Crewe Alexandra on September 30, and he also started the 2-1 FA Cup first round win at Mansfield earlier this month, but he was given a breather for EFL Trophy ties against Crewe and Port Vale.
Luke McNicholas, brought in on a short-term contract from League of Ireland Premier Division side Sligo Rovers in August to bolster Wrexham’s goalkeeping options, got the nod ahead of Howard for those two matches. When asked whether Howard will stay in the team against the Glovers, even if Okonkwo gets a clean bill of health, Parkinson added: “I haven’t decided that, to be honest. “We have a young Luke who has done really well, so we are just assessing that. “Arthur played at Mansfield; we will just assess everything in the next couple of days.”
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