When Alan Irvine takes a look at the Wrexham teamsheet this evening a familiar name is likely to be included in the home side's line-up, former North End midfielder Nathan Fairhurst.

The teenager is the only link between the Dragons and North End after former PNE trainee Darran Kempson was released by boss Dean Saunders last week.

Fairhurst was offered a new contract by Irvine last season but the youngster opted for the Blue Square Premier side and the prospect of more first team football. The midfielder impressed many while on loan in North Wales last season but a couple of new signings in his position have made his task in winning a first eleven slot even harder, as he admitted to the Daily Post.

"I think there are some good players here and I'm looking forward to playing alongside them, there's a lot of competition for midfield places, but I can't wait for the new season to come even though I know I'm going to have to work hard for a starting spot. That's why these pre-season games are important.

"I'd like to think I might score a few more goals this season. I got three last year but with Gareth Taylor in the side we now have a target man who can hold the ball up and hopefully he will do that and give us the chance to get shots away from the edge of the box."



Former Burnley and Sheffield Utd frontman Taylor is one of many new additions made to Saunders' squad this summer alongside midfielders Adrian Cieslewicz, Hedi Taboubi and returning hometown boy Mark Jones. Liverpool trainee goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis and central defender Mansour Assoumani have also bolstered Saunders' defensive options and the former Villa and Liverpool striker hopes his new signings can get a run-out this evening.

"We have nearly three weeks yet before the season starts so it's very much a case this week of improving everyone's fitness a little bit more because we are not where we need to be just yet. We didn't play last weekend so the players will have a double session today and something more in the morning before the Preston game.

"We have three games this week and that should provide opportunities for all the players to get some match time under their belts."

The Dragons have already encountered Championship opposition this summer, Coventry City, and they fared well, seeing a one goal lead pegged back in the second half to finish 1-1. Saunders told the Daily Post he hopes it is a platform for better things from his team.

"We played a Championship team and hopefully it's given the lads a bit of confidence because they played really well. The first half was excellent - in the second half we conceded from a corner, which does happen sometimes when you change ten players. But we've got no injuries and we put in a decent performance."



North End will be looking to continue their own good pre-season form, wins against FC Hallein, Chorley, Bamber Bridge and Tranmere have resulted in a solid start to the schedule but boss Alan Irvine told the official website that injuries will force his hand this evening when picking the team.

"We've got a few minor injuries which have given us a wee bit of concern, but certainly not anything long-term, Youl Mawene and Sean St Ledger are making progress, Barry Nicholson came off at the weekend with tight groins and has been pulled out of training as a precaution.

"We're hoping to have Liam Chilvers back in training by the middle of this week, again just a little bit of a groin/thigh type problem. Wayne Henderson has had a setback since training in Austria, nothing major, he's not been able to train since he got back from there, we're hoping he'll be able to train soon.

"Stephen Elliott was due to train yesterday but he was ill over the weekend so he's missed out on today's (Monday) training and Danny Mayor has also been ill so he's missing. Somebody's misfortune is someone else's opportunity, and it is important that they do take the opprutnites they get to impress, whether it's a young lad or someone who didn't play as much as they'd have liked last season, they've got a chance to be considered for the first game of the season."

North End will line up in their away kit again this evening of red/navy/navy with the home side in their away colours of white/red/red.

Fans travelling to the game should be aware that their are roadworks around Wrexham but no significant delay should be incurred by travel from the north of the town, supporters journeying to North Wales should leave ample time to reach the ground in time though.

The game kicks off at 7.30pm and full details for tickets and coach travel can be viewed here.

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