It’s part of modern football, it’s not ideal but you’ve seen it can be very successful.

Those are the words of manager Graham Barrow after he was asked about Wrexham's reliance on the loan market.

The Reds have signed 10 players on loan this season, and it's fair to say that the success stories are few and far between.

Rob Lainton and Brad Walker are the obvious standout loan performers with Stuart Beavon and Rekeil Pyke earning notable mentions.

But there have been frustrations over Scott Burgess and Freddie Hinds, who both barely kicked a ball in anger, while Jordan Maguire-Drew tailed off after a strong start.

Bobby Grant is yet to really show just why he was playing League One football with Fleetwood and another two recent signings, Ben Tollitt and Cole Stockton, have been starved of game time.

"We have to have loans," Barrow told those at the recent 'Meet the Manager' evening. "Some teams get promoted on it but things have to be going well and players can’t have that outlet to say 'that’s not the club I play for'.

"They have to be starters in your team or they do become dissatisfied."

Stopper Lainton has been an ever-present Wrexham's quest for promotion from the National League since signing from Port Vale, keeping 15 clean sheets in 30 outings, as well as helping keep the likes of Harrogate, Weston-super-Mare and Newport at bay in the FA Cup.

Walker, who was on-loan from Crewe, but is now on a temporary deal from Sam Ricketts' Shrewsbury, has been up there with Wrexham's very best transfer business since the summer.

The 23-year-old has been impressive in both defence and midfield, chipping in with four league goals along the way.

The tier below the impressive Lainton and Walker belongs to Huddersfield's on-loan attacker Pyke and Beavon, who is at The Racecourse from Coventry City.

Pyke was no stranger to north Wales when he signed in the summer and has produced five goals in 13 starts and nine substitute appearances, a record ruined in recent times by injury.

At the other end of his career is the evergreen Beavon, 34, who is full of running and neat and tidy touches, but fails to score enough goals - the story of Wrexham's season - having netted just three times in 28 appearances, the last of which came against Barnet way back in September.

Beavon has never been particularly prolific, but more was expected of Grant when he first signed on-loan from Joey Barton's Fleetwood.

But Grant, who looks ideally suited for the number 10 role, has flattered to deceive despite making his move permanent earlier this month, scoring just one goal in nine league starts.

Maguire-Drew, now with promotion rivals Leyton Orient, looked the answer to Wrexham's creative issues at the start of the season after making the move to Wales from Brighton.

Despite three goals in 13 starts, an issue with his wisdom tooth seemed to get people offside and he found himself cast to one side until Justin Edinburgh's men came knocking.

Then there is the curious case of Hinds, who failed to play a single minute on-loan from Bristol City, while Burgess' switch from Bury brought about just half an hour of action as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Solihull Moors back in August.

Whether Stockton and Tollitt, both at Wrexham from Tranmere, end up frustrated in their quest for game time remains to be seen, but the signs are ominous.

Stockton has made two substitute appearances, while Tollitt has come off the bench five times, scoring on his debut in the 5-1 crushing of Salford.

It's a chequered record for Wrexham this season with Barrow perhaps best summing up the uncertainty when signing players.

“Every player is a gamble whether as a loan or a signing, and you have to trust people within the game," added the Wrexham boss.