FIRST team players, youngsters and trialists will all get a run-out when Wrexham begin their pre-season programme with a friendly against Lex XI on Friday (7pm).

Manager Sam Ricketts currently has 12 senior pros under contract going into the 2018-19 campaign - left-back James Jennnings is not available - and young team players will also feature at Stansty Park.

Winger Jack Mackreth, released by Ricketts at the end of last season, has linked up with Wrexham for pre-season to build up fitness levels and he is also set to play along with a number of trialists who have been training with the Reds this week.

"Everyone will get half a game," said Ricketts. "There will be some trialists playing and some youth team lads will get an opportunity.

"It will be really good for them to play in front of what will be a good sized crowd, and show myself and supporters the prospects coming through."

Jennings has not returned for pre-season yet and Ricketts explained why.

"His wife gave birth and they weren't able to get away early enough to have a holiday so I wanted him to be fresh," said Ricketts.

"Last season he asked what day they would be back in for pre-season and it was different to what it actually was, which is where the confusion came.

"I could have been horrible and made him cancel his holiday but he is not going to have spite or any situation like that

"He will just be warned for clarity to make sure that doesn't happen again."

Former Wales international Ricketts, appointed Wrexham manager on May 2, is looking forward to his first game in charge against Welsh National League side Lex.

"From what I have heard from previous years, it is a really good way for the fans and players to mingle," said Ricketts.

"It is a game but it is more of getting to meet all the players.

"It is the fifth day of pre-season and we are still building it in every aspect; physically, tactically, mentally, recruitment.

"It will be a good physical exercise for the players. It is the first week of pre-season and in an ideal world it is probably too soon for a game but it will be good for us, Lex and the supporters."

Ricketts has not had to make wholesale changes to his squad after Wrexham only just missed out on the play-offs last season.

"There are really good foundations in place at the club," added Ricketts, who wants to go into Wrexham's 11th campaign in non-league with an 18-man squad.

"I am just trying to add bits to it and recruit into that squad.

"Every year, ideally as a club you don't get six, seven or eight players out and vice-versa in.

"You try and narrow that down to three or four every year so it builds that continuity and that is the idea of where to get to."