According to The Leader, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has revealed that defender Aaron Hayden’s injury is not as bad as first thought.
Despite being taken off with a thigh injury during Saturday’s win against Doncaster Rovers, the defender is thankfully not anticipated to miss “weeks and weeks” as initially thought.
Just how important is Aaron Hayden?
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers teenager has had a lot of success in Wales since joining Wrexham in April 2021.
Hayden has made the most of his time with Wrexham after playing youth football for years and receiving lower Non-League loans (apart from his time at Carlisle), scoring 20 goals in 72 games while playing defense and is just one game away from matching his appearance totals from his time at Carlisle United.
The past has not been repeated
Hayden had a calf injury earlier this year against Sheffield United in the FA Cup’s fourth round. The defender missed the remainder of the football season, but this injury was as severe as initially anticipated.
![AARON HAYDEN | “Playing at the Racecourse Ground and hearing that roar, there's no buzz like it” - News - Wrexham AFC](https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/siteassets/match-pix/eastleigh-h-09.04.22/74.jpg/Large)
This featured spectating as Wrexham defeated Notts County to win the National League title in historic fashion and secure their return to the football league.
What was said?
Parkinson recently said in an interview…
It’s not serious and nothing like what he previously had.
“We will evaluate him, but it doesn’t appear like he will sustain a long-term damage.
“Aaron has returned in really good shape, but as of right now, we are confident that it won’t be weeks and weeks,”
Author’s Opinion
Since Hayden missed the final few months of the previous season, another injury setback would have been difficult for the defender to take in. Hayden has been an integral part of Wrexham’s new era.
Although he won’t likely play for the team in Saturday’s home game against Grimsby Town, the news that his injury isn’t as serious as first feared will be a huge boost for both him and the rest of the club.