DEFENCE ALL RIGHT BY ME SAYS DENIS
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

DENIS SMITH is not contemplating signing a centre-half before the close of this week's transfer window.

Smith has lost Dennis Lawrence to Swansea City, for a fee rumoured to be around £75,000, leaving the Reds' boss with a squad of 22 first team professionals.

And though Smith is hoping to bring in former Wrexham striker Juan Ugarte once the Spaniard recovers from a knee operation, the form of his current crop of centre-backs during Wrexham's unbeaten start to the season means he may not be tempted to bring in a defender before the window closes.

"At this moment I don't believe I will be doing anything before the transfer window closes but we will have to see whether that changes," said Smith today. "I can get young players in but experienced centre-halves are hard to find, especially left-sided.

"I am happy with the centre-halves I have. We know Shaun Pejic can do it and Mike Williams has shown what he can do. Gareth Evans was outstanding for the reserves last night and Steve Evans has had a good game every time he has played, even though he is still finding his feet."

Gareth Evans was outstanding in defence for Wrexham's second string who beat Chester City 1-0 at Buckley Town's Globe Way last night with Levi Mackin scoring what turned out to be the winner in a deserved victory for the Reds.

As well as Evans and Mackin, fellow first team squad members Lee Roche, Josh Johnson, Michael Jones, Jon Newby, Marc Williams, and Jamie Reed also played 90 minutes in front of on-looker Smith.

Wrexham are without a fixture at the weekend with Sunday's clash at Shrewsbury postponed because of international call-ups.

Defender Ryan Valentine has been called into John Toshack's senior Wales squad for the European Championships qualifier in the Czech Republic on Saturday while goalkeeper Mike Ingham is away with the Northern Ireland party for their double header.

And Mark Jones, Mike Williams and Simon Spender have been named in Brian Flynn's under 21 squad for Wales' UEFA Championship match against Turkey in Cardiff on Saturday, though Spender has yet to travel to south Wales.

Spender's partner is due to give birth, though Smith has not ruled the defender linking up with the squad: "Simon's partner should have given birth by now and it is frustrating for him and Brian Flynn," said Smith.

"Simon will stay here training with us and if in a couple of days his partner gives birth, we will take stock of the situation. After all, the match is only being played in Cardiff."

Smith was delighted to see Valentine receive his late call-up on Sunday and believes the crop of Welsh players at The Racecourse are doing the club proud.

"I spoke to John Toshack a couple of times last week about various players and I am delighted Ryan has got in the full squad," said Smith. "There are a lot of Welsh players at Wrexham and the division we are playing in does not take anything away from the quality of them.

"Ryan has been playing well enough to be included while Neil Roberts and Chris Llewellyn have also had excellent starts. The good thing for anyone scouting for Wales is that if they are watching us, there will be quite a few Welsh lads playing. All the lads have done extremely well, and being in the Welsh set-up is great for the club."

The enforced break from domestic action gives Darren Ferguson more time to recover from a badly bruised foot that has seen the midfielder miss Wrexham's last four matches.

Smith said Ferguson could have featured in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Barnet at The Racecourse in an emergency but admitted there was no point in risking the Scot.