WREXHAM IN FIGHT FOR MOHAMED
Mark Currie - Daily Post

STRIKER Kaid Mohamed will be offered a contract at Wrexham, but boss Brian Carey may face a battle for his services.

The 22-year-old, who quit Welsh Premier club Carmarthen Town to pursue his dream of a professional career, scored two of the Dragons' four goals against Dungannon Swifts on Saturday after also finding the net in an earlier friendly with Blackburn Rovers.

But in a shock development, Wrexham are battling League One side Swindon for his services, with boss Paul Sturrock said to be "very keen" on the striker, who could even turn out for the Robins against Bristol City tonight.

Last night Carey confirmed that he would be sitting down to talk terms with Mohamed in the next couple of days.

He said: "During his time with us, Kaid has shown up very well in training, he's settled in and become part of the group of players and he took his two goals extremely well on Saturday.

"I've said before he has something different to offer in comparison to the other strikers we have at the club.

"I'm hopeful we can come to an agreement which is right both for him and for the club."

Mohamed, who scored twice for Carmarthen when they lifted the Welsh Cup for the first time in May, racked up a total of 32 goals in 79 Welsh Premier games after making his debut for CwmbranTown at the age of 18.

He moved to Llanelli two years later, but really made his mark at Carmarthen with 21 goals last season, enough for former Old Gold manager Mark Jones to recommend him to Carey.

DRAGONS HANDED JUAN BIG BOOST
Mark Currie - Daily Post

INJURED Wrexham pair Juan Ugarte and Matt Crowell could be back in training with their first-team squad colleagues later this week.

But Wales international Steve Evans faces a race against time if he is to figure in the opening match of the new season at Darlington on Saturday week.

The Dragons trio all missed out on last week's training camp in Northern Ireland, which went well both on and off the field, and club physio Mel Pejic expects to have mostly good news for manager Brian Carey this morning.

Ugarte, who has not played competitive football since December, has suffered no reaction to previous knee and hamstring problems since stepping up his rehabilitation and Pejic has been encouraged by progress reports from ColliersPark.

"While we have been away Juan has got another week's work under his belt and has been training with the scholars throughout," he said yesterday. "There's a good chance he will be back training with the first team before the end of the week."

Crowell, who suffered an early pre-season setback following knee surgery, had another scan 10 days ago that revealed nothing was amiss.

"Matty doesn't need any more surgery, which is very good news for him," added Pejic. "Like Juan he has made good progress over the course of the last few days and he, too, could be back with the squad before the end of the week."

Neither Ugarte nor Crowell have any chance of starting the season because they need more fitness conditioning and Evans, who suffered ankle ligament damage during a friendly at Newtown, remains a major doubt, according to Pejic.

"He is making good progress but we'll have a better idea when everyone is back in tomorrow," he said.

"Obviously the injury means that Steve is a couple of weeks behind the others in terms of his overall fitness and if he is to have any chance of playing at Darlington, he needs to be back in training next Monday.

"At the moment I would say that there is a bit of work to be done, so it is unlikely that he will be available. But we'll see how it goes."

Overall, though, Pejic's workload has been lighter this summer than in previous years, although he expects to be treating one or two minor knocks today following Saturday's 4-1 win against Dungannon Swifts, which brought the six-day trip to a successful conclusion.

"There were a couple of little things from the game," he said. "Richard Hope bruised his heel and Simon Spender got a knock on his ankle - but not the same one that had been bothering him earlier in the week.

"Generally speaking though there was nothing serious and we have had a very good pre-season so far from my point of view.

"We've got just the one pre-season friendly left now (at Hednesford on Saturday) so, fingers crossed, we'll be able to start the season with a virtually fully-fit squad of players."

KAID THE ONE TO WATCH
Richard Jones - Wrexham Evening Leader

KAID MOHAMED has been tipped to become the new Lee Trundle of Welsh football.

That's the view of former Wrexham right back, Deryn Brace, who is now manager at Mohamed's Welsh Premier club Carmarthen Town.

Wrexham manager Brian Carey has offered Mohamed a deal but so could SwindonTown after Paul Sturrock stepped up his interest for the striker by inviting him for a trial at The County Ground.

But Brace, who played alongside Reds boss Carey for two years at Wrexham before joining Mohamed at Richmond Park, believes Wrexham's latest target has the ability and temperament to take the Football League by storm, in the same manner that Trundle did when he joined Wrexham from Rhyl in 2001.

Brace said: "I spoke to Steve Weaver (head coach at Wrexham) around Christmas time and told him that Kai is the closest player in the Welsh Premier to Lee Trundle.

"He is like Trundle in the way that he plays off the cuff. He has got everything. He has a tremendous knack of scoring goals and can offer clubs another dimension with his blistering pace."

Wrexham boss Carey has also been suitably impressed by the performances of his young trialist, and said: "We are hoping to offer him something this week. During his time with us he has shown up very well in training, he's settled in and become part of the group of players.

"He took his two goals extremely well on Saturday and offers something different in comparison to the other strikers we have at the club - he is very direct and has a good eye for goal."

However, Mohamed, who scored twice the in 4-1 pre-season victory against Dungannon and once earlier in pre-season against Blackburn, could feature for SwindonTown in their friendly against BristolCity tonight - where he will go head-to-head with Trundle.

Trundle, who joined Bristol City in a £1m transfer from Swansea yesterday, scored 27 goals in 97 appearances for the Reds before joining the Swans under the Bosman ruling in 2003, where he averaged a goal just over every other game.

Mohamed also has an eye for goal and Brace says Wrexham can only benefit from snapping up the 22-year-old South Walian.

"He doesn't only have tremendous ability but he's also got tremendous confidence in his own ability," added Brace.

"Some might mistake it for arrogance but it's not. He is just a confident young lad, who when he wants something really goes out and gets it.

"He has been a success everywhere he has gone and I have no doubt that given the chance at Wrexham he can continue in that mould.

"Some people will say he lacks experience but that will come with the more games he plays. He has such tremendous potential and I really hope he can fulfill it at Wrexham. "Every club wants a hero and with Kai being such a great lad, and if he does score goals, I am sure that the Wrexham supporters will really take to him."

The former Wrexham full back went on to explain how Carmarthen Town are extremely proud of the young striker's progress, adding that the day he signs will be fantastic day for all those involved with the club.

"Everyone at Carmarthen is really excited at the prospect of Kai signing for Wrexham," added Brace.

"We have never stopped anybody from bettering themselves and there are a lot of people within the club who are really proud of what he looks set to achieve.

"It is also really good for the Welsh Premier as it puts us in the spotlight a little bit more.

"Kai will become Wrexham's second summer signing from within Wales and there are certainly more players within the league, who if determined enough, could possibly make the jump up one day."

Carey also confirmed that Mohamed is unlikely to be his last summer signing before the start of the new season.

"I do have my eyes on other players," added Carey. "We are always looking who is available and who we can add to the squad, although I am not inclined to mention any names just yet."

Wrexham were back in training at Colliers Park toady where there was brighter news for injured duo, Juan Ugarte and Matt Crowell.

Both are making good progress according to physio Mel Pejic but neither will be in contention for a place in the starting line-up for the League Two opener against Darlington on August 11.