IT’S safe to say that Paul Mullin’s summer break was much more enjoyable than the one he had 12 months ago.

After a prolific spell with Cambridge United, where he won the League Two golden boot, Mullin picked up where he left off when he joined the Reds in July 2021.

Mullin finished leading scorer with 32 goals in 2021-22 to scoop the Player of the Season award as well as the National League’s golden boot and Player of the Season gong, but there was no promotion to celebrate.

Wrexham were pipped to the title by Stockport County and beaten 5-4 by Grimsby Town in an epic play-off semi-final.

However, Phil Parkinson’s men regrouped and embarked on a record-breaking 2022-23 campaign, culminating in automatic promotion back to the Football League following a 15-year absence.

Mullin once again led the way with 47 goals in all competitions, earning him the club’s Player of the Season award for a second year in a row as well as a place in the National League team of the season.

It was a far more enjoyable close season for the 28-year-old after clinching promotion.

“This summer was a lot easier than last year,” said Mullin.

“Last year was tough after the way the season finished, we only had a couple of weeks off and then it was straight back to it.

“It was like a never-ending season - basically two years of hard work - but we came away with promotion this season which is what we all set out to do, and I enjoyed the summer this time around.

“Our aim at the start of the season was to get promoted and to achieve it after the disappointment of the year before was brilliant.”

Wrexham returned for pre-season training last week and Mullin is counting down the days until Wrexham kick-off the new League Two campaign with a home game against MK Dons on Saturday August 5.

“Pre-season is not enjoyable,” said Mullin. “You don’t enjoy any part of it, you don’t really get excited until the back end of pre-season

“But as a footballer, pre-season is obviously necessary. You have got to do it to get peak fitness-wise.

“And when you are close to the start of the season, you are really excited to get going again.”

Backed to continue climbing the divisions under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham are favourites for the League Two title but Mullin is expecting a tough division and knows success will be hard-earned.

“We know it is going to be really tough, there are a lot of great sides in the league this season especially,” he added.

“But we are going to be up for the fight and try as hard as we can to finish as high up the league as we can.”