Wrexham's reluctant hero who refuses to celebrate

In some ways, Josh Windass and Wrexham should not work.

At the club with the Hollywood profile, the 32-year-old shows little inclination to play up to the cameras.

There is not even a flash of a smile let alone a punch of the air when he finds the net, as he did at Oxford on Tuesday to send Wrexham back into the Championship play-off places.

Windass arrived as a free agent in a north Wales summer dominated by a string of headline-grabbing, big-money moves.

And as the season prepares for its climax, Windass seems to be revelling in his role of reluctant hero, having made it 15 goals for the season with his midweek winner.

Not that you would know it.

“You’re going to get a boring interview because there’s not much to say apart from that we need to win the next two games,” was Windass’ verdict at Oxford on what Phil Parkinson’s side need to do to keep hold of their play-off place.

Blunt but perfectly put. Wrexham will ensure they have a crack at a fourth straight promotion if they can spoil Coventry’s next round of title celebrations at the CBS Arena with a win on Sunday and then beat Middlesbrough at home on the final day, regardless of rivals’ results.

And given Windass’ form, you would not bet against him being the man of the moment again.

“It’s not easy to get goals at this level but he’s producing goals when it matters most,” said Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson. “And that’s the sign of a top player.”

It is five in the past six appearances now, officially at any rate.

Windass insists there have been six. He corrected an interviewer’s question about his recent tally as he continues to claim he touched goalscorer George Thomasson’s corner over the line in last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Stoke.

He may not celebrate goals, but he certainly counts them.

Either way, Windass’ tally is already his best for a season at this level and the most in a campaign by a Wrexham player in the second tier.

“It doesn’t mean anything to me, to be honest – I’m just happy to contribute,” was his take on the small slice of history.

But none of this means he does not care. In actual fact, his work-rate and tenacity are evidence of why he is a perfect fit for Parkinson’s Wrexham.

Then there is the ability to conjure something from nothing in tight contests, to be a difference-maker.

Indeed, only Swansea City’s Zan Vipotnik (22 goals and 3 assists) and Hull City’s Oli McBurnie (15 goals, 7 assists) have had more goal contributions than Windass – who has five assists to go with his goals – in the second tier this season.

Perhaps fellow frontman Sam Smith hit the nail on the head when he suggested Windass’ cool head after goals is a reflection of how composed he is when chances come.

For what it is worth, Windass says he does not feel the instinctive need to celebrate his own goals, and tends to show more delight when team-mates score.

Besides, for all the non-celebrations this season, it is obvious that beneath it all are hunger and ambition.

Having had to start in eighth-tier football after his release from Huddersfield Town as a youngster, then getting a break at lowly Accrington, Windass’ route to this point in his career has been a winding one.

Promotion and a first crack at the top flight was an aim when he was able to cancel his contract at Sheffield Wednesday last summer as a result of missed wages.

“This is why I joined the club,” he said. “Everyone said they get promoted every year so I thought I’d come and try it out for myself, and hopefully I’m not bad luck!”

If anything, the opposite is the case given his pedigree.

There is an irony that Hull City – the club Wrexham are jostling with for sixth – are the side who won a Wembley play-off promotion to the Premier League courtesy of a spectacular strike from Windass’ father Dean 18 years ago.

But Windass has play-off history of his own, having scored a 123rd-minute Wembley winner for Wednesday when they went up from League One three years ago.

It was a rare occasion where Windass celebrated scoring.

As the Championship’s final scenes approach, Wrexham will be hoping he can be the hero once more – even if he would be a reluctant one.

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