PHIL PARKINSON says it's taken Paul Mullin time to get back to feeling 100 per cent but he believes Wrexham's star striker is getting "back to his best".
Mullin, who scored 105 goals in his first three seasons at The Racecourse to help secure back-to-back promotions, underwent spinal surgery in the middle of June to correct a long-term lower-back and hamstring issue, meaning he missed the start of the League One campaign.
Handed only his second league start of 2024-25 against Rotherham United on Saturday after leading marksman Jack Marriott broke his fibula in training, Mullin scored after just 16 seconds when he got on the end of Ryan Barnett's cross.
It was his first league goal this term having previously netted twice in the EFL Trophy and Parkinson says the 29-year-old produced a brilliant all-round performance as Wrexham won 1-0 at New York Stadium to stay second in the table.
"I felt he was really back to his best in training last week," said the Reds' boss.
"After 10 games, to be in contention and pain free with his back would have taken that.
"Sometimes, there's expectancy on Paul from himself because of what he’s done for us.
"He played the Wolves game and scored, had a few days off with the rest of the lads and he came back in really firing on all cylinders last week. The break did him good.
"His goal was brilliant but his all-round display for the team was top class."
On the early goal in south Yorkshire - taking Mullin up to 108 for the club - Parkinson said: "It was a great bit of play straight from the kick-off, an outstanding cross from Barney and a brilliant finish from Mulls.
"It is what he has done time and time again for us over the years, and he scores all different types of goals. He has got that ability and I'm really pleased for him .
“He’s started four games this season, including in the EFL Trophy, and scored three goals so his ratio is pretty good."
Parkinson has a tendency to substitute both strikers in the second half of matches but Mullin played the whole match at Rotherham, with Steven Fletcher coming on for Ollie Palmer and Mo Faal staying on the bench.
"I felt he was looking strong," added Parkinson.
"You have got to remember Mulls is an athlete, he is a fit lad; as he has shown time and time again, he can run the hard yards for the team which we need.
"The days of having a luxury goalscorer at the top of the pitch are long gone in football.
"Everybody has got to work, everybody has got to press, and Mulls and Ollie did that brilliantly.
"When Fletch came on, he just switched straight into that for us and was unlucky not to get a goal as well."
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