Wrexham A.F.C. Defender Liberato Cacace has been banned from driving for six months after pleading guilty to six speeding offences. The offences occurred on the A483 in Wrexham last August, with five in a 50mph zone and one recorded at 68mph.

Cacace did not attend Mold Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where the case was dealt with in his absence. His solicitor submitted correspondence stating he "accepted full responsibility for all matters and wished to plead guilty." The court imposed 19 penalty points on his previously clean licence, fined him £1,023, and ordered him to pay a £409 victim surcharge and £780 in costs. He had ceased driving the day before the hearing in anticipation of the ban.

Manager Phil Parkinson addresses injury concerns

Manager Phil Parkinson defended the 25-year-old's character amid ongoing fitness struggles. "He’s a great lad; he’s just been really, really unlucky and sometimes pushed himself too quickly after an injury," Parkinson said. He noted Cacace arrived from Serie A last July for a club-record fee with no injury history, but the intensity of Championship football has been a factor. The club is managing his recovery carefully to give him the best chance of contributing. The manager's comments come as the club's injuries page details the challenges facing the squad.

Limited impact on the pitch

Despite playing in every game of Wrexham's US pre-season tour and for New Zealand in their recent World Cup campaign, injuries have severely limited Cacace's involvement. He has made only 13 first-team appearances since his high-profile signing and suffered another setback after pre-season. His absence is felt as Wrexham sit 19th in the Championship with seven points from seven games, following a 6-0 defeat to West Ham last week. The team's position in the standings reflects a difficult start, and his limited contribution is also evident in his stats for the season.

The team's next chance to improve their form comes at home to Southampton on Saturday, a key fixture in the fixtures list. Cacace was not included in New Zealand's upcoming international squad, allowing focus on his rehabilitation and compliance with the six-month driving ban.

First reported at NZ Herald Sport