JAY HARRIS is making up for lost time after missing the entire 2009-10 season – and the midfielder has already set his sights on becoming a regular in the Wrexham team.

The 23-year-old was one of five players charged with breaching Football Association rules on betting relating to his Accrington Stanley side’s match against Bury on the final day of the 2007-08 campaign.

After moving on to Chester City, his spell at The Deva Stadium came to an abrupt end after just one season when he was given a 12 month suspension last July.

Harris, who completed his ban last week, has agreed a one-year contract with Wrexham and he played in Wednesday’s goalless draw against a Liverpool XI

And the focus is now winning a place in the team for the opening Conference match of the season against Cambridge United on August 14.

“I am made up to sign,” said Harris. “I just want to forget about the suspension now and put it behind me. You learn by your mistakes and that is what I will do.

“I just want to crack on with my football, and hopefully do well for Wrexham.

“I will work hard to try and get into the starting 11. Hopefully the gaffer will think I have done well and put me in the team.

“If I do well and establish myself you never know what will happen after that. I am
ambitious and would like to play at a higher level, it is every footballer’s aim.

“It is 14 months since I last played a competitive match, at the end of the 2008-09 season when I was at Chester, and I can’t wait for the season to start.

“The adrenaline is flowing, every day is getting better and better, I am enjoying it even more.

“I am buzzing. Hopefully I can kick-on and get in the starting 11 for the first game. I would be buzzing if I walked out to face Cambridge United, and then try and stay in
the team.”

Harris, who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League with Accrington Stanley and Chester City, was a surprise inclusion in the Wrexham side for Wednesday’s friendly against Liverpool.

Having started training with his new team-mates just days earlier, Harris played 71 minutes against Liverpool and also featured in a behind closed doors friendly at Morecambe the following day.

While not yet 100 per cent, Harris is confident he will soon see a vast improvement in his fitness levels: “I have had a go at doing work on my own, doing a lot of running, but it is not the same as training because you don’t push yourself as much,” he said.

“I have felt it since I have been at Wrexham but that is understandable as I only started training last week.

“Hopefully I will be near 100 per cent fit for the start of the season. That is what I’m aiming for.

“I surprised myself the other night against Liverpool. I did well to last that long and my calf was a bit tight.

“But with training, playing matches and working with fitness coach Mal Purchase, I will be fine by the start of the season.”

A former team-mate of strikers Andy Mangan and David Brown when they were all at Accrington, Harris believes being familiar with each others’ game will benefit Wrexham.

“It seems a very good club with a great set-up and the gaffer is ambitious,” added Harris.

“There is a great bunch of lads here. I already know the likes of Mangy, Browny and Andy Fleming but I have got to know the others in just a few days.

“I played with Andy and David at Accrington and have a good understanding with them.

“I have played a lot of games with them and know what they are both about. If I am
in the starting line-up with them, it can only benefit us.”