"He's looked worse" - Claim made on Wrexham AFC star Elliot Lee | OneFootball

FLW's Wrexham fan pundit has been speaking on the player who they feel has underdelivered this season.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Wrexham's Hollywoodesque rise over the last few years has made heroes out of a number of their star players, one of which being midfielder Elliot Lee.

The 30-year-old central midfielder joined the Red Dragons on a free transfer at the very start of their rapid ascent up the English footballing pyramid in the summer of 2022, having spent a number of years at Luton Town previously.

Having turned down EFL offers to move to the Racecourse Ground, the versatile attack-minded midfielder would go on to play a lead role in helping the club achieve back-to-back promotions, first out of the National League in 2022/23, and then out of League Two in 2023/24.

Lee would bag 28 goals in total across those two respective campaigns, and without his contributions, Wrexham may not have achieved those promotions.

"I don't want to say shadow of his former self" - Underdelivered claim dropped on Wrexham star Elliot Lee

We asked our Wrexham fan pundit, Liam Grice: 'Which first-team player has underdelivered on your expectations of them this season and why?'

Grice said: "I'd say Elliot Lee, for me, as the first-team player that's maybe underdelivered a bit more than I expected this season.

"I sort of knew the jump up in quality in terms of the level of opposition would be tough to adjust, but Elliot Lee had played at this level before.

"He was a brilliant player in League Two, and especially in the National League, so I thought he could really carry that development on and continue his fine form for us.

"But he's really just been a bit part player this season. Not really got going, not built much momentum. When he's come in he's looked, I don't want to say a shadow of his former self, but he's looked worse than he did last season.

"The moment that will stick out for me is definitely his miss away to Cambridge in the last minute, which if he'd of had that a year ago, he definitely would have buried.

"So, for me, Elliot Lee has been the player who has underdelivered this season."

Elliot Lee may face nervy summer if Wrexham win promotion to the Championship

Should Wrexham continue their rapid ascent up the EFL with a third successive promotion to the Championship this season, then a number of players will surely be fearing for their futures at the club.

The Red Dragons, should they reach the second tier, won't simply be aiming to survive at the level, but to thrive. As such, they'll be looking for players who can help them mastermind yet another promotion push.

Lee's performances in League One this season, whilst not a disaster by any means, haven't quite been to the same standard that Wrexham supporters have become accustomed to with the 30-year-old central midfielder.

Meanwhile, George Dobson, Oli Rathbone and Matty James have all enjoyed excellent campaigns in the heart of Parkinson's midfield, and have between them, diminished Lee's importance to the starting XI slightly.

Therefore, should Wrexham win promotion this season, or perhaps even if they don't, at 30, Lee may well feel as though he's got plenty of good years left, and as such, the idea of playing a squad role at this stage of his career may not appeal to him.

However, given how big of a part he has played in Wrexham's rise over the last few years, there will undoubtedly be a huge emotional connection to the club, and he will surely have a hard time saying goodbye.

Given how important and good a servant he's been to them, the club's hierarchy surely won't force Lee out of the door this summer either. Instead, the ball will perhaps be in his court.