WREXHAM today flew to Northern Ireland - but
there was no time for sightseeing.
Within hours of touching down in Belfast,
Wrexham were preparing to face Newry City this evening, the first of their
Irish opponents.
Reds boss Denis Smith took advantage of the three-game tour by naming a
squad of 16 players.
Fifteen of the 18 contracted players at The Racecourse have made the trip.
Jim Whitley, out since the end of January with a knee injury, is still not
fully fit.
Skipper Darren Ferguson has withdrawn for personal reasons, while wing-back
Andy Holt has stayed behind to be with his wife who is expecting a baby at
any time.
Third-year scholar Mike Williams, who has impressed so far in pre-season,
was also included in the squad that made the trip across the Irish Sea as
Smith continues to plan for the League Two campaign which kicks off at home
against Boston United on August 6.
And Brian Carey who retired last week after failing to overcome a knee
injury which had kept him out of action since October, has made the trip to
Northern Ireland in a coaching capacity.
Bonding
"We are still a couple of weeks away, so this gives us a chance to do some
sharpening up in match situations," Smith said today.
"You don't win anything in July and pre-season is a learning curve, so if
things don't work straight away, we have got time to work on them.
"The players will continue to build up their fitness and there is no better
way than playing games, and I can work on shapes and patterns of the team.
"On paper, it should be a good week against decent opposition - I would be
disappointed if it was not a good standard for us to pit our wits against.
"I don't know too much about Newry and Crusaders, but Glentoran have shown
what they can do over the years and they lost in the Champions League last
week, but they all should be good tests for us."
Smith's five pre-season signings - Michael Ingham, Lee Roche, Dave Bayliss,
Jon Walters and Lee McEvilly - are expected to feature heavily against the
three Irish sides.
And Smith, used to taking his squad across to the Isle of Man festival,
which Wrexham were not invited to this year, said it was a good team-bonding
exercise to go on trips such as this.
"You need to settle in an area if you can so that the lads can bond," added
Smith. "If you are packing up and moving on, you are never settled.
"We have five new players and they seem to have settled so far, so things
are looking good ahead of the new season.
"And two of the lads, Michael Ingham and Lee McEvilly, are Northern Ireland
internationals so it suits them coming across to Belfast."
After facing Newry City tonight Wrexham play Crusaders on Wednesday before
completing their tour against Irish champions Glentoran on Saturday.
|
Darren Ferguson has withdrawn
for personal reasons
Tour Fixtures:
-
Monday: Newry City
-
Wednesday: Crusaders
-
Saturday: Glentoran
Related Articles:
|
