20 July 2005
By RICHARD WILLIAMS
| DENIS SMITH will again run
the rule over Aaron Samuel at Hereford United tonight (7.45pm). The 19-year-old former Arsenal trainee, who scored twice in last week's 4-0 victory over Colwyn Bay before returning back home to London, will feature at Edgar Street as Wrexham continue their build-up to the new season. Trialist Samuel is hoping to do enough to earn a contract at The Racecourse, though manager Denis Smith only has two available positions to fill in his squad which has a maximum limit of 20. But another trialist striker, St Vincent and Grenadines international, Rodney Jack, is doubtful tonight because of injury. As well as looking for a striker, Smith will also be stepping up the search for a centre-back now that , Brian Carey has been forced into retirement. With no developments yet, it gives third year scholar Mike Williams another chance to show what he can do having had an impressive preseason so far. The three are penciled in to play some part at Conference side Hereford along with 16 of the 18 professionals contracted to Wrexham. Injured Matt Crowell and Jim Whitley miss out. Smith said today: "Aaron should be back in time for me to have a look at him but Rodney did his ankle yesterday and may not be fit enough. "We could do with another striker but I am in no rush to do things yet. Dean Bennett has shown what he can do up front and is pushing to the fore, while we also have new-sign-ings Jon Walters and Lee McEvilly, who has been working hard on his fitness. "Mike is included again because with Brian Carey now retiring, I am short of centre-backs." Working their way back to full-fitness is the mam objective for the Reds' players but Smith is also working towards what he thinks will be his starting eleven when Wrexham kick off their League Two campaign against Boston United at The Racecourse on August 6. And although Smith is close to finalising that, the door is not closed yet for other players. "These sorts of games are good because I need to look at all my players, what they can do, try different shapes and ways of doing things, as well as what they will be getting out of it fitness wise," said Smith. "But I have also got to start looking at what will roughly be my starting eleven for the start of the season. I am very close in my own mind to what it is but pre-season games are a chance for others to push their way in. "I am open to change - it might even be a different formation." Former Malta international goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin, who has been training with Wrexham this week as a favour to Liverpool, could be given a run-out tonight. Darmanin is looking for a club in England and Smith agreed to a request from Liverpool to let the 28-year-old train at Colliers Park - but that's as far as it goes. "The lad needs a club, which we can't offer him, but we are doing this a favour to Liverpool who asked if he could train with us," added Smith. "Saviour looks a decent keeper and with Michael Jones playing in another friendly against Newtown tomorrow, I might give him half an hour tonight."
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Aaron Samuel will play against Hereford tonight but fellow trialist Rodney Jack is doubtful
We could do with another striker but I am in no rush to do things yet
Denis Smith |
