Not quite a case of “The King is dead, long live the King” in a sunny, if rather blustery, Barrow-in-Furness. But a ringing endorsement all the same.

A first half that had been largely dominated by Wrexham was entering its closing stages when the 855 travelling supporters launched into a rendition of a tune that has become a familiar part of their matchday songbook these last few months.

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However, where Status Quo’s hit Rockin’ All Over The World had previously been a tribute to Ben Foster, now it was his replacement between the posts who was being hailed.

“Super Mark Howard in goal,” came the chant from the away section at Holker Street, a gesture that was very much appreciated by the 36-year-old who responded with a thumbs-up and a quick clap.

Come the final quarter of a 1-1 draw, it was the turn of the fans to applaud Howard following his important save to deny Jamie Proctor what would have been the winner.

Having climbed above Anthony Forde, the Barrow striker got sufficient power on his downward header to be reasonably confident of seeing the ball nestling in the corner of the net. Instead, Wrexham’s goalkeeper got down smartly to beat the effort away.

“Mark was good,” said Phil Parkinson. “He is a solid keeper and we know that. There were no qualms about him playing. He’s experienced and he showed that.”

Saturday was a big day for Howard. Having been dropped in February following a couple of below-par displays, the former Sheffield United goalkeeper could have been forgiven for wondering if his time at the Racecourse Ground was up.

Even a contract extension in the summer, triggered automatically by Wrexham clinching promotion, didn’t offer much hope with Foster and Rob Lainton seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order.

Then, though, came Foster’s shock decision to retire just four games into the League Two season. With Lainton making slow progress from a knee injury suffered in pre-season, the opportunity came knocking for Howard.

His save from Proctor was the clear highlight. But it was far from his only contribution to a solid Wrexham display that, with more composed finishing in a one-sided first half, would have more than likely yielded a first away win in the EFL for 15 years.

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The veteran goalkeeper — he’s 37 next month — was decisive throughout, rushing from his line when needed, such as late on when demanding Ben Tozer leave the bouncing ball and Proctor stood ready to pounce.

His judgement was good, too, with Howard covering a Kian Spence shot that bent just outside the post all the way. Had the effort veered the other way, it would have been parried to safety.

No blame could be attached to the goal, either. Even Foster in his England heyday would have struggled to get anywhere near Emile Acquah’s beautifully executed curled effort into the top corner. “The lad scored with a great finish,” conceded Parkinson afterwards about the 52nd-minute leveller.

Howard’s second start this term — he kept a clean sheet in the Carabao Cup first-round shoot-out victory over Wigan Athletic — was the perfect fillip for someone whose critics were quick to round on him last season.

In a way, the one-time Arsenal junior summered from the old adage about first impressions lasting. Having arrived on a free transfer during the summer of 2022 as Carlisle United’s reigning Player of the Year, he made mistakes against Eastleigh and Chesterfield in his opening three appearances that led to goals.

Howard subsequently went on to play his part in Wrexham’s title success. Only six players chalked up more than his 32 league starts, while he kept 12 of the club’s 17 clean sheets.

But, to those who had made their mind up on the back of those early season errors, a below-par display in a 4-3 win at Aldershot was bad enough. To then follow it with a costly error at Maidenhead United to gift Shawn McCoulsky a stoppage-time equaliser meant his critics were out in force.

The 2-2 draw at York Road proved to be Howard’s last start until the opening week of this season, when Parkinson rotated his squad for the League Cup clash with Wigan.

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Until Foster called time on his career early last week, the cup competitions seemed Howard’s best hope of playing at all. Now, though, Luke McNicholas, signed from Sligo Rovers earlier this month on a short-term deal that can be made permanent in January, will be hoping to get his chance on Tuesday against Bradford City in the second round.

Asked who is likely to start between the posts against Mark Hughes’ side, the Wrexham manager said: “It is too early to say. Me and Steve (Parkin, assistant manager) normally have a chat on Sunday morning, then there’s a review of the game with the staff. Only then do we start picking the team for Tuesday night.”

With Liam Hall, a teenager who signed a one-year contract just last week after joining from Northern Premier League side Bradford Park Avenue, the only other fit ‘keeper on the books right now, Wrexham have been looking in the transfer market.

However, when asked by The Athletic for an update on the search for Foster’s possible replacement, Parkinson chose to talk about recruitment in general.

He said: “If someone comes in, it is a bonus. We are not hanging on whether we can bring players in and at this stage of the window you can be limited in options. We are in talks over different positions but the most important thing is some of my players are starting to come into form.”

That last point was primarily about Tom O’Connor, outstanding in midfield against Barrow. But it could equally have applied to Howard after a solid return to league action.

Whether that will be enough to convince Parkinson efforts will be better spent focused on landing a new midfielder before Friday’s 11pm deadline or a striker capable of shouldering the goalscoring burden until Paul Mullin is fully fit, only he truly knows.

Either way, it promises to be a fascinating final week of the transfer window in north Wales.

(Top photo: Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

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