Phil Parkinson reveals Davis Keillor-Dunn was unlucky not to be subbed on against Ipswich in the 5-3 win last weekend.
Wrexham’s ongoing home run is as good as it gets for the group. Having picked up consecutive victories after a string of winless games, the Reds have been fortunate to rediscover their Racecourse luck.
Undeniably, Wrexham are currently hitting their best level collectively. But individually, the fortunes of the club players have been mixed.
On the positive side, there lie multiple in-form names in Josh Windass, Callum Doyle and many others. On the flip side lies the unfortunate case of Ben Sheaf. Finally, there are names like Davis Keillor-Dunn, who face the most complex situation by being stuck in the middle.
After completing a deadline day move, Keillor-Dunn has made just one brief appearance for Wrexham. While his lack of minutes hints at Phil Parkinson’s choice, Davis Keillor-Dunn has also been undone by luck.
Recently, Parky revealed how Keillor-Dunn was extremely close to marking his second appearance on return, but missed it.
In last weekend’s Championship thriller against Ipswich, Parkinson had his plans ready to bring on the 28-year-old and push for a winner when the tie stood at 3-3. However, a timely goal by Callum Doyle changed Parky’s plan as he instead opted to bring on Zak Vyner to see out the crucial win.
Phil Parkinson looked back, saying, “Davis was very unlucky not to get on. He was just about to go on at 3-3 and then we went 4-3 up. Then I changed it with Zak coming on to give us a bit more height in the box defending, and Lewis O’Brien went to the right 10.”
Keillor-Dunn’s Wrexham return is yet to live upto hype
Before returning to Wrexham after his inaugural spell in the National League days, Keillor-Dunn was on a roll at Barnsley. Having scored 13 goals in 24 league appearances, the forward led the club’s attack force.
That’s what set the standard for Davis Keillor-Dunn’s iconic return in an eleventh-hour move on deadline day. Sadly, he has been deprived of real opportunities to live upto the hype speculated around his move.
So far, Keillor-Dunn has accumulated only 18 minutes of regular game time in the Championship. While he has made it to all matchday squads since his move, he has yet to feature after his debut against Millwall.
What makes this situation tricky is that the blame for Keillor-Dunn’s infrequent game time can’t be pinned on anyone specifically. Beyond Phil Parkinson’s preference for the in-form duo of Kieffer Moore and Sam Smith, Keillor-Dunn has simply been unlucky.
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As Parky confessed, he was eager to offer Keillor-Dunn a cameo spell against Ipswich in the final minutes. However, Callum Doyle’s 75th-minute goal had the objective accomplished before he could be brought on to make the difference in a scoreline tied at 3-3.
Ultimately, Davis had to finish the game on the bench itself, with new signing Zak Vyner getting the go-ahead over him to defend the lead.
While a possibility could have seen Keillor-Dunn scoring the 5-3 goal to seal the win, his fate tricked him completely. He eventually ended the game with zero minutes as Nathan Broadhead scored the fifth goal to guarantee the crucial win at home.
Wrexham Vs Charlton sets up starting case for Keillor-Dunn
Barring a brief Championship debut against Millwall, it’s been zero opportunities for Davis Keillor-Dunn at all. While the latest clash against Portsmouth could’ve Parky test him upfront, he saw out another evening on the bench.
However, there’s hope for the 28-year-old finally. Though he missed the bottom half lying Pompeys, the upcoming game against Charlton presents a serious opportunity for Keillor-Dunn.
Recently, Phil Parkinson clarified about Kieffer Moore’s illness. Having not been started against Portsmouth, chances are Parky opts against risking him against Charlton up next.
Sam Smith’s fitness has shown similar concerns. The backup forward felt dizzy at half-time after giving Wrexham the lead against Pompey, and certainly isn’t in his pink of health.
While there are a couple of days until the Charlton game, this situation screams for Phil Parkinson to consider Keillor-Dunn in the starting XI. If the forward gets the go-ahead, it can be his inaugural real opportunity on his Wrexham return spell.
Notably, Nathan Jones’ Charlton is coming on the back of a 3-game winless streak. Factoring in that Wrexham loanee and Charlton starter Conor Coady won’t be available this weekend against his parent club, the game against the Addicks comes as a golden chance for Davis Keillor-Dunn.
Throughout his recent EFL years, Keillor-Dunn has been recognised for his knack for scoring goals. If the 28-year-old bags some goals in a standout performance against Charlton, it would mean the world for his confidence.
Keillor‑Dunn’s potential start against the Addicks would be his first in four weeks. In his last outing, he registered a brace against Stevenage and will hope to produce a similarly impressive display against Charlton this time around.
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