BRETT ORMEROD admitted his hamstring injury could not have come at a worse time but the striker refuses to get downhearted.
Ormerod, who has featured in every game this season, scored his first Wrexham goal in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round victory over Southport at The Racecourse 10 days ago.
However, a training ground injury sustained last week meant Ormerod would not have been involved in Saturday’s game at Braintree which was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, and the 36-year-old is frustrated to be sidelined.
“It seems to be the story of my life at the moment. One door closes and another one does as well,” said Ormerod. “It is just one of those things. I have been relatively injury free for quite a long time.
“I finally feel I am getting up and running in the goalscoring aspect, so it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
“But you have got to get over these things. There are a lot of people in worse positions than me. Mark Creighton is in every day, working hard and is out all season so hopefully it is a minor set-back.”
Ormerod explained how he sustained the injury and the former Blackpool and Southampton frontman hopes to be back in action in a couple of weeks.
“We’d finished training and were just doing a bit of shooting,” said Ormerod. “I probably stay out too much. I should have come in but I just swung through one and my hamstring went.
“I wasn’t the best person to be around at the weekend. I was sulking but I was more disappointed for the lads because it is a long way to go for the game to get called off.
“I didn’t travel. I was having rehab, but hopefully it won’t be too long. With hamstrings, you have just got to take it as it goes.
“To be honest, I have not had too many in my career so when I did it I knew it had gone but it is not a bad one and hopefully I will be back sooner rather than later.
“Listening to the physio, he is quite confident it will be a couple of weeks and hopefully I will be back. I’ll work hard to try and get back as soon as possible.”
While Ormerod did not make the journey to Essex, he sympathised with his team-mates who saw their game against Braintree called-off just over an hour before kick-off due to a waterlogged pitch at The Amlin Stadium.
“From a selfish point of view I could say at least I haven’t missed a game because it was off,” said Ormerod.
“But I know how far Braintree is, I think I would have started crying getting on the coach to come all the way back when it has been called off like that.
“It is a long way to go and when you get down there, you just want to get games played so I did feel for the lads.”
Wrexham’s promotion rivals did play and leaders Newport County suffered a 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Woking but Ormerod was not getting carried away.
“I would rather be in the position we are in at the business end of the season and be there or thereabouts,” said Ormerod, whose side are still four points behind Newport with a game in hand.
“It is a funny league and a difficult one to get out of. Newport getting beat is a plus for us but we can only concentrate on ourselves. There is a long way to go.”
Ormerod will miss Saturday’s FA Cup first round tie against Alfreton Town at The Racecourse but hopes Wrexham can produce the goods and continue their run in the competition.
“It is a break from the league again and another game to look forward to,” added Ormerod, who was a losing FA Cup finalist with Southampton in 2003. “Hopefully we can get another good result and try and get a good cup run going.”
Meanwhile, Wrexham reserves face Grimsby Town this afternoon at Colliers Park (2pm kick-off).
Right-back Danny Alfei, who has joined Wrexham on loan from Swansea City until January, will get a run-out.
The Wales under 21 international will be joined in the squad by Andy Coughlin, Danny Devine, Declan Walker, Jamie Morton, Joe Clarke, Nick Rushton and Jay Colbeck.