Wrexham have been dealt another injury setback ahead of a demanding week in the Championship, with manager Phil Parkinson confirming that forward Sam Smith is facing a "significant" spell on the sidelines due to a knee injury.

What happened to Smith?

Smith picked up the injury during Friday's 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United. He continued after the incident at Bramall Lane, but his knee swelled considerably the following day, prompting the club to seek specialist advice. Parkinson confirmed on Tuesday that a consultation had been arranged for that afternoon to establish the full extent of the damage.

"He came off against Sheffield and went back and carried on, and his knee swelled up significantly the next day," Parkinson said. "Our initial thoughts are that he could need surgery, but we will know more after today."

The 28-year-old joined Wrexham from Reading in January 2025, so this setback arrives at a point when he was still finding his feet in the second tier.

The timing could hardly be worse

Wrexham were already stretched in attack well before Smith's knee gave way. Josh Windass and Nathan Broadhead remain sidelined, and Callum O'Hare was absent at Sheffield United and is still listed as a doubt. Lose Smith for any significant period and Parkinson is, by any realistic count, without four senior attacking options.

The next fixture makes the timing especially uncomfortable. Championship leaders Middlesbrough visit on Wednesday evening (19:45 GMT), and Parkinson's side will need to find ways to cause problems going forward with a severely depleted frontline. The Wrexham vs Middlesbrough key stats preview we published earlier this week outlined what a stern examination that fixture already represented; Smith's absence adds a fresh layer of difficulty.

Cadamarteri handed his opportunity

With senior forwards unavailable, Parkinson has pointed to 21-year-old Bailey Cadamarteri as one of the players who must step up. The Jamaica international joined from Sheffield Wednesday in January and has made five appearances in the Championship so far, all from the bench, without yet starting a senior game for the club.

"That is what happens in football clubs: people come out of the side and other people say, 'this is my chance to step up to the plate and show what I am all about'," Parkinson said. "Undoubtedly Bailey is going to get some game time and I am looking forward to seeing that. He is trained well and he is ready."

Whether Cadamarteri is ready to make an immediate impact against a side leading the division is a different question. The manager's public confidence is understandable: he has few alternatives and little to gain by undermining a young player before a big occasion. What the evidence of five substitute appearances actually tells us about his readiness to start against top-six opposition, we do not have the numbers to settle definitively.

The broader picture for Wrexham

Wrexham's start to the season has been scrutinised in this space already. A side with genuine promotion ambitions can ill afford to lose multiple attacking players simultaneously, not because depth squads do not exist, but because the Championship's physical and tactical intensity punishes any drop in quality quickly. Middlesbrough on Wednesday, followed by whatever fixtures follow, will test Parkinson's ability to organise a back-to-front game plan without his preferred options.

Smith's specialist appointment on Tuesday should clarify the severity and the likely timeline. Until those results are known, Parkinson will be planning for the worst while hoping the initial assessment proves too pessimistic. A full diagnosis will shape the club's thinking for the weeks ahead, and possibly into the January window if the absence extends as far as early indications suggest.

Frequently asked

How long will Sam Smith be out for Wrexham?
Phil Parkinson has described the knee injury as 'significant' and suggested surgery may be required. Smith saw a specialist on Tuesday and the exact duration of his absence had not been confirmed at the time of publication.
How did Sam Smith get injured?
Smith suffered the knee injury during Wrexham's 1-0 Championship defeat at Sheffield United on Friday. He played on after the incident but his knee swelled significantly the following day.
Who will replace Sam Smith in the Wrexham attack?
Manager Phil Parkinson pointed to 21-year-old Bailey Cadamarteri as likely to get more game time following Smith's injury. Cadamarteri joined from Sheffield Wednesday in January and has made five Championship appearances as a substitute.