Wrexham FC v Everton FC U21s: Gary Mills says Dragons face toughest test of pre-season so farThe Dragons boss said he will be looking to hand more game time to his players as they taken on a young Blues side at the Racecourse
Wrexham 1 Everton XI 4: Scorer Nick Rushton.Action from last year's games between Wrexham and Everton U21s
Gary Mills believes his Wrexham side will face their toughest test of the pre-season to date when they take on Everton’s U21s at the Racecourse this afternoon in what will be his first home game as manager.
In their first two friendlies the Dragons notched a 7-1 win at Lex XI last Friday and drew 1-1 away at Colwyn Bay on Tuesday night.
While the game at Llanelian Road was no walk in the park, Mills is under no illusions about the scale of the task facing his newly assembled squad in today’s 3pm kick off.
It was the Blues youngsters who inflicted Kevin Wilkin’s first defeat of last season’s pre-season campaign when they ran out 4-1 winners, despite Nick Rushton handing Wrexham a first half lead.
The former Gateshead boss will be hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself when the two teams face off and plans to give some of his players a 90 minute run out for the first time, having fielded a different side in each half of the previous friendlies.
He said: “It’s going to be a tough game against a side that likes to keep the ball and are very sharp, but we’ll be looking to do the same to them and that’s how we’re going to play.
Colwyn Bay's Chris Shape battles for the ball with Jake Duran
“The pitch is looking great and it will help us to play the way we want to. Overall we’re looking alright and the aim will be for some players to get 90 minutes under their belts.”
Although midfielder Rob Evans will be available to play again after recovering from an ankle injury picked up against Lex XI, winger Adam Smith and centre back Jamal Fyfield will miss out along with longer term absentees Mark Carrington and Ross White.
Mills said: “Adam Smith has injured his heel and Jamal Fyfield has picked up a thigh strain so they won’t be used. Rob Evans trained this morning and looks ok so he will be available again.”
He also admitted that he was relishing walking out in front of the fans at the Racecourse for the very first time.
He said: “I’m looking forward to it, I like to work hard and we’re starting to learn more about each other.
“It’s always nice for the fans to come out and especially being back at the Racecourse. We’re looking at around 1,000 fans being there and it would be great if we could get that amount.”
