Here’s my column from last week’s Leader. It forms part of the paper’s comprehensive pre-match coverage every Friday, featuring interviews, an in-depth look at the opposition and lots of statistical analysis. All content in the column (c) www.leaderlive.co.uk

As we ponder the strength of our midfield, the injuries suffered by our defenders and the struggle to find the right blend up front, it’s easy to forget what a solid piece of business Andy Morrell did in settling our problem at right back.

Having started the season with Steve Tomassen as our only real option in that position, we had a bit of an issue on our hands. That’s not at all to criticise Tomassen: in fact he did a solid job there. He was often one of our better players in our worst performances, and I like a man who stands up to be counted when others fail to.

However, it was unsustainable to hope a player who prefers to play in the middle and had limited first team experience at this level might fill the right back slot all season, especially when the experienced core of the back four was hardly able to support him as it was constantly beset by injuries and suspensions. I don’t believe for a moment that Morrell envisaged Tomassen playing there for the whole campaign; furthermore, I think he knew exactly who he wanted there as well.

He’s often said that the best signings become available late on the day, when they realise the offers they hoped for aren’t going to materialise. He was rewarded for his patience when exactly that scenario befell Mark Carrington, and as a result we’ve netted a class act until at least the summer.

Carrington might also prefer to play somewhere else, but for a central midfielder he makes full back play look pretty easy. It took him a game to get fully used to the requirements Wrexham’s 4-3-3 puts on a full back, looking a little hesitant against Braintree as Jay Harris constantly exhorted him to get up the line, but since then has slotted in seamlessly.

Sound defensively and quick enough to recover if the opposition counter attack, he’s valuable when we haven’t got the ball. When we do have it, his midfield qualities kick in. He passes well, likes to get forward and can deliver with quality. Have a look at Andy Bishop’s hat trick goal against Gateshead for a graphic illustration of that: Carrington breaks forward, realises the one decent aerial target hasn’t arrived in the box yet and calmly holds onto possession until Bishop is on his way into the danger area before delivering a perfect cross between the centre backs for the striker to attack.

Carrington’s success is a reward for Morrell’s approach. Joe Anyinsah and, to a lesser extent, David Artell have arrived at the club in similar circumstances, and an experienced core is developing in the squad. It’ll be interesting to see what deals popup at the back end of January and beyond.

When it comes to managing on a budget, the more positions you can pin down with quality players, the better you are. Morrell can be satisfied that right back is an area he’s got covered.