Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds
Phil Parkinson could be left with a dilemma following a potentially serious injury to one of Wrexham's star players.
Midfielder Andy Cannon sustained a knee injury in the first half of the Red Dragons' 2-1 win over Mansfield Town on Sunday. The result saw Wrexham, owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, edge closer to the automatic promotion spots in League One, closing the gap on second-place Wycombe Wanderers to three points after their rivals drew with Wigan Athletic.
Sadly, the triumph was overshadowed by Cannon's injury, which saw him being administered oxygen and stretchered off the pitch. Post-match, Parkinson said: "We've lost Andy and it looks like a bad injury. It looks like a knee injury but we don't know the extent of it yet."
Cannon later took to Instagram, expressing gratitude towards fans for their support. As the extent of Cannon's injury remains uncertain, there might be a need for Parkinson to consider signing a free agent as a temporary solution, given the transfer window being closed.
The approach isn't new to the former Sunderland and Bolton boss, who took similar action back in October, bringing aboard Matty James and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson. Wrexham currently have space for one more player, following the release of their latest squad list earlier in February.
Here WalesOnline has identified four free agent midfielders who could be on Wrexham manager Parkinson's radar, thanks to the support of the club's high-profile owners.
Jeff Hendrick
Jeff Hendrick
One such player is ex-Newcastle United midfielder Jeff Hendrick. The 33-year-old has been without a club since leaving St James' Park last summer.
Having spent most of his four years at Newcastle out on loan, including stints at Queens Park Rangers, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday, Hendrick's experience in the Premier League and Championship could make him an appealing prospect. He also shares a past connection with current Wrexham player James McClean from their time together on the Republic of Ireland team.
Jake Livermore
Another notable free agent is former England international Jake Livermore. The 35-year-old has been without a club since being released by Watford in May 2024. With seven international caps and almost 200 Premier League appearances under his belt, along with nearly 250 Championship games, Livermore's impressive resume could make him a valuable addition to the squad.
His career has seen him play for Tottenham, Hull City, West Brom and Watford. Livermore, who played 32 times and scored three goals for the Hornets last season before his release, could be considering one more shot at glory. Wrexham would be the perfect place to add a third promotion to his CV.
Joe Morrell
Joe Morrell pictured with Gareth Bale during a Wales training session
Joe Morrell, a Wales international with 37 caps, was previously linked with a move to Wrexham last summer after his contract with Portsmouth ended. Despite helping Pompey win the League One title, the 28-year-old was allowed to leave at the end of last season.
Morrell began his career at Bristol City, also spending time on loan with Cheltenham Town and Lincoln City during those early years, before moving to Luton Town in 2020. He later joined Portsmouth in August 2021, a club where he says he "found a home in football".
However, a knee injury marred the end of Morrell's time at Portsmouth, which could prove a barrier to joining Wrexham. But the player himself seems keen on a switch to North Wales. "In the Football League, there's not many more exciting projects than Wrexham," he told the BBC in October last year.
Cheikhou Kouyate
Former Premier League player Cheikhou Kouyate might seem like an ambitious target, but is another player who has been without a team since last summer. The 92-cap Senegal international came close to joining Leeds United in October after spending time at the Championship leaders' training ground over the international break.
However, according to Football Insider, Leeds reportedly abandoned the deal after the 34-year-old failed a medical test. The former Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace defensive midfielder could be a valuable addition for Parkinson in Wrexham's bid for a third consecutive promotion.
However, Kouyate's wage demands could prove expensive, even for big-spending Wrexham. It also remains uncertain whether a player who has only ever played in the Premier League would be willing to drop down to League One.