'I rate him very highly' - Wrexham 'very lucky' to have Paul Mullin as ex-Premier League winger James McClean insists his Red Dragons team-mate is no tap-in merchant

McClean has been used to playing with Premier League-quality strikers during his career, but he has insisted that he rates Mullin very highly. The Republic of Ireland international only joined Wrexham in August, but has already struck up a good partnership with the 29-year-old striker. Last week he set up Mullin's equaliser before then scoring himself as Wrexham beat Port Vale in the EFL Trophy.

In 2021 Mullin gave up the chance to play in League One with Cambridge United in order to play for Wrexham in the National League. Last season he scored 38 goals in 46 league games as the club owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney secured promotion to League Two. Speaking to the Leader, former Premier League star McClean shared just how good he thinks Mullin is.

McClean said: "I rate him [Mullin] very highly, his record speaks for itself. He is a striker who can score all different types of goals; he is not just someone who scores six-yard tap-ins. We are very lucky to have him."

Mullin suffered a punctured lung and four cracked ribs during Wrexham's pre-season tour in the United States, but McClean feels that the striker is almost back up to top speed. "It was a serious injury but he is probably up to full-match sharpness now," McClean said. "That's great for us because he is starting to get that goal tally up which is good to see so long may it continue."

McClean and Mullin both sat out Wrexham's 2-0 defeat of Gillingham on Saturday through suspension, but both will be available for this weekend's trip to Accrington Stanley. Phil Parkinson's side are currently second in League Two, five points behind leaders Stockport County. Next week McClean will make his 103rd and final appearance for the Republic of Ireland in a friendly against New Zealand.