CAREY AIMS TO BOOST DRAGONS' FIREPOWER
Mark Currie - Daily Post

WREXHAM'S determination to improve their goal-scoring record next season was underlined by the arrival yesterday of two non-league strikers hoping to impress manager Brian Carey.

The Racecourse boss, who has already signed Michael Proctor and Eifion Williams to boost his existing strike-force, will be running the rule over Carmarthen Town's Kaid Mohamed, who scored twice in the Richmond Park club's first-ever Welsh Cup victory in May, and Richard Simm - from Leigh RMI - for the next two weeks.

Only relegated Torquay United scored fewer goals than the Dragons during last year's battle to retain their League Two status and only Chris Llewellyn reached double figures, his total of 11 including two in the Carling Cup.

"The two lads are here for a couple of weeks," said Carey.

"Both of them are different types of striker to those we already have here and we are in the situation that we have to explore every avenue and leave no stone unturned."

The significance of the new faces was not lost on fans' favourite Lee McEvilly, whose two-year stint at the club has been disrupted by injury problems.

Eight goals in each of his two campaigns to date equates to roughly one in every two starts, but the former Rochdale and Accrington Stanley man is hoping for better luck in the coming campaign, despite jarring his right shoulder following a tumble yesterday on his first day back in training.

"Everyone starts with a clean slate today and my first priority is to get a good pre-season under my belt, which has not been the case in the past two years," said the 25-year-old Liverpudlian.

"My foot is absolutely fine now and I'm under no illusions that anyone owes me any favours.

"It's good to see that the gaffer has brought in one or two new faces and hopefully we will be able to provide him with a few selection headaches in the season ahead.

"What's very clear is that he has brought in some quality lads who have the right sort of experience at this level.

"It means there is more competition for places and I'm happy with that.

"Without blowing my own trumpet too much I think I've got a pretty good track record and I'll be working as hard as possible to ensure that it's me who is leading the line on a regular basis."

McEvilly accepts that his front-line rivals, club captain Neil Roberts, Proctor, Williams and Llewellyn, began their pre-season preparations last week will be first in the queue to figure in Saturday's friendly with Premiership outfit Liverpool at the Racecourse.

"That's fine by me," he added. "I haven't kicked a ball for the past six to eight weeks so I don't mind if I'm involved or not this weekend.

"I enjoyed playing against Liverpool in my first year at the club but from our point of view as players it's a warm-up game which has been arranged for the benefit of the fans and the club.

"I'm more focused on making sure I'm fit and ready for the game at Hednesford on August 4 and the one the week afterwards when we begin the season at Darlington.

"Pre-season is all about preparation and in five weeks time I'm hoping that I'll be in contention to play because that's when it really matters."

Carey, meanwhile, has hinted that his squad-building activity is not over, with a midfield player still on his wanted list.

"We've one or two things on the go and we'll have to see how they pan out, but I'm hoping to have some positive news on that by the middle of next week," he said.

NEIL HOPING IT ALL WORKS OUT
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader - Monday

NEIL ROBERTS today revealed why he hopes his hard work over the summer pays dividends next season.

Club captain Roberts endured a frustrating season last term, spending many months watching his side battle it out at the foot of the table from the sidelines after injuring his ankle against Swindon last September.

However, the 29-year-old striker is determined to put his disappointments to one side, and after joining up with his teammates for training last Monday he can't wait for the forthcoming campaign to begin.

"Last season was difficult but I don't want to dwell on it to much, we are now going into a new season and a new start," said Roberts.

"It was nice to get back. We have got a few new lads who joined us in the summer and it has given us the chance to meet up with them.

"There is still a long way to go until the start of the season, but we came in early to give ourselves that little bit extra. I am really looking forward to the next few weeks."

Roberts joined up with the rest of the squad for the first training session of the season last Monday, but due to the stop-start nature of last season he has already worked harder than ever on his fitness levels over the summer months, in an attempt to enjoy a season free of serious injuries.

Speaking after his first pre-season session, Roberts said: "It has been a tough morning, but on a personal point of view I have tended to tick over a bit during the summer so it has not been to much of a shock to the system.

"It is important that we come back to training in decent shape, like we were told at the end of last season. We all know we have got to be fitter and stronger this year and that is our intention.

"We are all just looking forward to getting back into it again now and getting the footballs out, although I imagine there will be quite a bit of hard running before we see too much of them.

"The weather has hampered the plans a little bit so far but we have got decent enough facilities to have a good workout inside.

"It has been hard work, but it's never easy and you don't expect it to be easy - it's all about getting our base for the next few weeks and I'm sure we will go into the season flying."

Despite boasting a battery of strikers, Roberts confirmed that he is not worried about the competition for places and instead believe it is a step in the right direction.

"There is competition all over the park. Obviously a lot has been made that we have brought in a couple of strikers - but that is good for you," added Roberts.

"You need competition all over the pitch because there shouldn't be anybody who thinks that they have got a divine right to play and that will be the case this year.

"On a personal level I do have my own targets. First and foremost I just want to remain fit and then I will start looking at other targets. Obviously I would like to get into double figures, but then again it all depends on how many games I play."