Andy Cannon will, if selected, make his fiftieth Wrexham appearance at Morecambe, and his story so far tells us a lot about his character and Phil Parkinson’s ability to handle a large squad of talented players.
When he arrived part of the way through last season, he fitted nicely into the pattern of signings Phil Parkinson has been making. He was clearly the sort of player who would be of use to us as we climbed the divisions. He had recent experience of the Championship with Hull City, enjoyed a successful loan spell the season before with eventual National League champions Stockport County, and was clearly a highly technical player.
For the first couple of months, he didn’t get much continuity in the team. We were going great guns and it would have been a challenge for anyone to break into the side at that point, regardless of their pedigree. It wasn’t until the 17th game after his debut that he played in two consecutive games, but he went swiftly from famine to feast, showing his quality as he started the 14 remaining matches as we drove on relentlessly to promotion.
After initially lining up on the right side of midfield, he’d settled into a central role as Tom O’Connor was initially injured, and then returned to the side in the back three. His energy and ability to use the ball intelligently under pressure added an extra dimension to the heart of the team.
However, he wouldn’t find the position to be so comfortable at the start of the following season. Wrexham looked a little under-cooked in the season opener at home to Milton Keynes Dons, and Cannon’s ability to make interceptions and pressurise players couldn’t prevent him from being overrun as the visitors took control of the zone in front of our defence and enjoyed constant free runs at our back three.
He was withdrawn just after the hour with our defence already beaten three times, and while he certainly wasn’t the only Wrexham player to struggle to reach his usual levels at the start of the campaign, he found himself struggling for continuity again as he was in and out of the team.
He played in 4 pf the first 7 games of the season, alternating between starting and being an unused sub, but was substituted in each of the games he appeared in. He was returned to that central defensive role when we faced Swindon Town at The Stok Cae Ras, but once more we were exposed defensively: this time we’d conceded 5 goals by the time he was withdrawn.
He didn’t get onto the pitch in the next five games, and was only on the bench in one of those matches, and a sequence of three substitute appearances were abruptly ended when he went into a wild challenge at Crawley and was sent off.
By that point his form had deteriorated and the reckless challenge at Crawley implied he was desperately seeking to regain his rhythm and make a contribution. You never would have thought that he’d play such a major role in our season back then.
Credit to Parkinson though. While it looked like Cannon had a lot of work to do to return into contention, the manager will have seen how Cannon reacted in training during his 3-game suspension, and returned him immediately into the side for two massive away games against Notts County and Mansfield. Cannon repaid him with an assists in both games as Wrexham secured a couple of huge wins.
Cannon’s willingness to go in where it hurts and nick the ball away from opponents often leads to him getting clattered by a player who arrived too late – the red card challenge he suffered last Saturday was a prime example – and he had to go off injured after a foul which probably ought to have given us a man advantage at Field Mill. He returned to the side triumphantly with two assists against Morecambe, and scored his first goals for us in the next two matches.
That Morecambe game was significant for him. He’s started 19 of the subsequent 21 games, missing one game through injury and the other because he was rested for an EFL Trophy match. He has established himself in the heart of midfield, offering energy, press-resistance and measured passing to a side which is winding itself off for another big finish to a season.
Cannon’s resilience as he’s bounced back from injury, lack of continuity and a dip in form has been admirable, and he is indubitably crucial to our chances of promotion. It’s also an illustration of Parkinson’s man-management skills. He showed faith in Cannon when he was at a low ebb, and helped to kick-start his campaign. He’s done the same recently for Will Boyle. Coincidence? I think not. Parkinson knows a good player when he sees one, and knows how to help them give their best for us.
DragonHeart 
Well said. Completely agree and impressed by your restraint in resisting the temptation to describe his moments of poor judgment as being a bit of a “loose Cannon” at times—a test I clearly failed😉. Can’t wait to get Evans and O’Connor back to rejoin him.