JACK MARRIOTT could miss the start of Wrexham’s season after having his appendix removed.
The 30-year-old striker is currently with Phil Parkinson’s side for their pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand.
But Marriott will be stuck Down Under for several more weeks after suffering from appendicitis.
He is unable to fly after going under the knife, with official NHS advice recommending a rest period of at least two weeks post-surgery – and even longer for active sportsmen.
Marriott, who featured in friendlies against Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC, will now miss final match against Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand.
He will also be unable to jet back to Wales with his teammates until he has made a full recovery.
And Marriott is now in a race against time to be fit for Wrexham’s crunch Championship opener against Southampton on August 9.
He’s not the only star to have suffered away from home, with in the 2-1 defeat to Sydney.
Boss Parkinson groaned: “Jack is in hospital, he has had his appendix out this morning so we are a bit short in terms of our strikers department since we have been over here.
“Hopefully the operation has gone well but it looks like he is going to have to stay over here longer because he won’t be able to fly back.
“Over the course of a trip like this, you expect a couple of injuries but I’m obviously disappointed with those two.
“Particularly Ollie because we know once Jack has got the operation done, it won’t be long before he’s back.”;
Marriott’s potential absence would be a huge blow for Ryan Reynolds’ Hollywood side, with the forward having fought back from a broken leg last October.
Fan favourite after a rapid fall from grace, while fellow strikers Steven Fletcher and Sam Dalby have also been given the boot.
It leaves new signing Ryan Hardie, Jay Rodriguez and Sam Smith as Wrexham’s attacking options alongside veteran Ollie Palmer.
Meanwhile, Wrexham are close to signing Kiwi international Liberato Cacace from Italian side Empoli.
They also for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien earlier this month.
But SunSport exclusively revealed that his salary demands were holding up a move, with no breakthrough found so far.
