Callum Doyle is in trouble after what Phil Parkinson said about Dom Hyam

April 14, 2026

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson explains his reasoning behind resting captain Dom Hyam for the crucial Birmingham game.

Little changed for Wrexham against Birmingham from their 5‑1 defeat to Southampton. Despite Phil Parkinson making some glaring tweaks to his starting XI for the trip to St Andrew’s, the manager couldn’t end Wrexham’s winless streak in a 2‑0 defeat.

One of the most notable changes Parkinson made against Birmingham was starting Dom Scarr in place of captain Dom Hyam. While there was speculation whether it was a response to Hyam’s subpar performance against Southampton, Parkinson has clarified the reason himself.

The manager cited it as a much‑needed rest for Hyam, who looked fatigued and saw his performance drop against the Saints. As quoted by the Leader Live, Parkinson said: “I thought he just looked fatigued on Tuesday (the 5-1 defeat at home to Southampton) and he’s been brilliant for us.”

Phil Parkinson added: “He’s a fantastic character, a great lad, but Scarry equally has been brilliant for us over the last couple of years and he deserved his chance.”

Although the manager rested Hyam against Birmingham, the next player to move to the bench could be Callum Doyle. This follows after the mainstay looked similarly worn out in the defeat at St Andrew’s.

Callum Doyle looked subpar Vs Birmingham City

Wrexham’s performance was terrible against Birmingham on all fronts. A disastrous attacking display put pressure on the defence, but the backline was no better as they let chances flow in too easily.

The blame for the crucial 2‑0 defeat falls on the entire back four, but an individually underwhelming performance from Doyle didn’t help when the team needed him most.

Doyle is regarded as a rock‑solid presence and a man for big occasions, but he received the lowest FotMob rating among Wrexham’s defenders in this game. The player’s struggles were evident beyond the stats as he was constantly troubled by Carlos Vicente and Stansfield on his flank.

Wrexham’s negligible attacking presence forced Doyle to push forward and try to create goal‑scoring threats. That often backfired, as Birmingham exploited the spaces he left with long balls, forcing Doyle to chase opposition forwards throughout the game.

Although Doyle did reasonably well when present in the box, his position was erroneous on a couple of instances. In one notable incident, his misjudgment and slow reaction to a long ball allowed Birmingham forward Carlos Vicente to go one‑on‑one with Okonkwo just before the break.

The Wrexham keeper made a brave save to keep the scores level, but an unimpressive second‑half outing from Doyle and the other defenders saw them concede two stoppable goals to lose the must-win game.

Parkinson may choose to rest Callum Doyle against Stoke City

Phil Parkinson’s primary reason for resting Dom Hyam was fatigue accumulated during a frantic schedule. Much like Hyam, Doyle’s recent dip in performance stems from his excessive workload, week in and week out, for Wrexham.

The Birmingham game marked the 22nd consecutive league match in which Doyle played the full 90 minutes. Barring a substitution in the 105th minute of the FA Cup tie against Chelsea, he has played every minute of action for the Reds since mid‑December.

As a result, fatigue is catching up with him, and it was evident in the latest trip to Birmingham. It shouldn’t be a surprise, then, if Parkinson opts to rest Doyle in the next game and turns to options like Lewis Brunt or brings Hyam back into the starting XI for the must‑win tie.

Beyond giving Callum Doyle a needed breather, a fresh back three comes with another advantage.

Dom Scarr was arguably Wrexham’s best defender against Birmingham. His quality helped, but his willingness to contribute after weeks on the sidelines likely aided his solid display.

If Parkinson tries him again against Stoke City or hands an opportunity to Lewis Brunt, their fresh legs could provide more solidity to Wrexham’s backline.

Even otherwise, Wrexham’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, and the current sloppy setup isn’t helping them. Calling for players like Dom Scarr or Brunt could work in the club’s favour while also assuring these fringe players that they remain part of the club’s plans.