With Wrexham suffering from something of a striker shortage at present, it was integral that Jon Dadi Bodvarsson could step straight into Phil Parkinson’s XI and make an impact from day one.
And, much to the delight of the Wrexham boss, a centre-forward who joined on a free transfer last week alongside former Premier League-winning midfielder Matty James is champing at the bit and ready to make his mark despite arriving in Wales after nearly four months out of the game.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson joined Wrexham on Friday, having been released by Bolton Wanderers when his contract expired in the summer.
As such, the 32-year-old could have been forgiven for needing some time to catch up to the rest of the Wrexham squad.
But, while Bodvarsson is understandably short when it comes to match sharpness, his impressive fitness levels may have left a delighted Phil Parkinson wondering whether to throw the well-travelled frontman straight in ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Harrogate Town.
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson impressed by Jon Dadi Bodvarsson fitness
“I am really pleased with Matty and Jon coming in,” Parkinson told reporters in midweek.
“Both are certainly not players who are looking to retire. And [joining Wrexham] gives them an opportunity to train and get themselves up to speed, either to stay with us longer or to attract attention elsewhere.
“They can help us short term. And hopefully long term, but equally we are helping them get back into a first-team environment.
“Matt has been training with us for a couple of weeks so he is ahead of Jon in terms of being with the group. [But] physically, we were pleased with Jon’s fitness.
“He has been training with an Icelandic team but hasn’t done much the last three weeks because their season has finished, so we will work with him and he will have his first full week with us this week.”
Bodvarsson had been keeping himself ticking over with third-tier UMF Selfoss back home in Iceland before putting pen to paper on a contract which will keep him at Wrexham until January at the earliest, with the option of a longer deal should he make his mark.
Parkinson explains why Bodvarsson was brought in
Bodvarsson has represented Bolton, Wolves, Reading and Millwall in the Football League.
And while the 64-time Iceland international is certainly not the most prolific of strikers – he has never hit double-figures in a league campaign – Bodvarsson’s physicality and presence could come in very handy with Steven Fletcher out of action.
Wrexham hitman Jack Marriott will be on the sidelines for months after suffering a broken leg, meanwhile.
“We went from five strikers to three with Jack out and when Fletch’s knee flared up,” Parkinson adds, Wrexham failing to win either of their last two league matches in frustrating draws with Huddersfield Town and Charlton Athletic.
“We always keep an eye on the free transfer market anyway, and we spoke to Jon. We got him over for a physical assessment last week and I feel he will be a good addition to the group.
“I think it is great to have the ability to change the strikers around in a game which we have done so well this season.
“Like with Matty in midfield, it adds good competition and keeps the squad strong for this run up to January.”
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