CARVILL KEEN TO IMPRESS CAREY
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

MIKE CARVILL intends to play himself into Brian Carey's plans this season.

The versatile Carvill, equally at home in midfield or attack, has signed at new one-year deal with Wrexham and is looking to make the most of the coming campaign.

Having secured his release at the start of the year from Charlton Athletic, where he was restricted to appearances with the reserve team, Carvill joined Wrexham and went on to make one League Two start and five substitute appearances last term.

Carvill's only league start last season came in the February defeat at Grimsby Town but the 19-year-old also began Wrexham's FAW Premier Cup quarter-final tie at Newport County, and he scored the goal in the 2-1 defeat - his first and only goal so far for the Reds.

But 19-year-old Carvill is setting his sights high and is aiming for a lot more first team opportunities this season: "I have to push on, work hard in training and impress," said Carvill today. "The aim is get in the first team and try and play regularly. I want to do the best I can for the team.

"I want to be involved a lot more this season. I am still 19 but I want to push on now and set goals this season.

"We have got a big squad here but you have to aim high. It is up to the gaffer who he picks so you have just got to impress. You have to have high targets to achieve things."

Although enjoying his football at Wrexham now, Belfast-born Carvill admits he found it difficult to adjust after switching teams half-way through last season.

"It was awkward coming in half way through last season. I had a bit of a rough time and did not know quite what to expect," he said.

"It was the first time I played in the Football League but I definitely enjoyed it. And I am enjoying my football more at Wrexham than I did at Charlton. I am far happier here.

"I think it will be easier going into this season with Wrexham from the start for me because I am on a par with everyone. I came in last year and I had not played a lot of games, just some for Charlton reserves.

"I came here aiming to get fitter. Now I feel a lot more at home and on a par with the other players."

Carvill has been given two 45 minute run-outs in Wrexham's pre-season friendlies against Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers.

A star-studded Blackburn ran out 2-1 winners in Tuesday's match at The Racecourse as Wrexham turned in an encouraging performance.

Impressed with the attacking instincts Wrexham showed against Mark Hughes' side, Carvill said they have to reproduce that presence in the opponents' half when the new season begins.

"I am happy with pre-season so far," said Carvill today. "It was an early start coming back on June 25 but it has been going well.

"Everyone has had two 45 minute run-outs and it has been good to get back on the pitch.

"I don't think we have done ourselves any harm with the results. Both games have been close and we have got to keep pushing on.

"It has been a great experience, playing against the likes of Blackburn who put a very strong team out with some experienced professionals.

"I thought we did well in the second half. We got the ball wide, got at them and you could see Blackburn did not like it. I don't they were as fit as us yet.

"We kept getting at them and that is what we have to keep doing to teams. That is what our focus has to be this season."

Meanwhile, striker Juan Ugarte, who has been recovering from a long standing hamstring injury in Spain, is expected back at Wrexham today.

CAREY IN PRAISE FOR YOUNG STAR
Mark Currie - Daily Post

TEENAGER Neil Taylor has been the surprise package of Wrexham's pre-season performances against Premiership clubs, Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers.

But it's perhaps not surprising that the 18-year old defender was destined to become a footballer since he was born in the same St Asaph maternity ward as a certain Ian Rush.

A latecomer to the Racecourse school of excellence after four years with ManchesterCity's youth development programme, 18-year-old Taylor was only one of three Wrexham scholars invited to join the club's professional ranks this summer.

And all the signs are that he's ready to graduate from reserve team football following his accomplished displays so far, with Dragons boss Brian Carey delighted by what he's seen so far.

A senior debut against Liverpool last Saturday was followed by another outing on Tuesday when Taylor came up against England under 21 international David Bentley and gave another composed performance.

"Neil did well again," said Carey. He has got good quality. We have been well aware of what he can do, and he is doing himself no harm."

But the youngster is keeping his feet firmly on the ground, admitting that he had never expected to be involved in the front line preparations for the League Two campaign that lies ahead.

"To be honest, it's all come a bit out of the blue," he said. "I was very surprised when the gaffer threw me in last weekend, but I think I've done okay for myself and now I've got to keep it going."

Taylor, a Wales international at under 16, under 17 and under 19 levels, has now set himself the task of establishing himself in the first team squad, even though he knows the competition is stiff.

"Wrexham have a great tradition of pushing youngsters through to the first team and in my time here I've seen the likes of Mike and Marc Williams and Andy Fleming get their opportunity," he added.

"My next target is to win a place in the squad of players going to Northern Ireland later this month and, while I realise that the competition is tough, it's a good situation for the club and the manager.

"I have enjoyed the experience so far but I know that there is still plenty of hard work ahead and I've got a long way to go.

"It was quite a job marking David Bentley and a look at their line-up made it clear we were in for a tough test. I decided the best thing for me was to stay tight to him and I felt I managed that.

"Maybe I got on his nerves a little bit but the game was played in a good spirit and he shook my hand as we both came off the field at half time."