The Leader:

LUKE YOUNG is back in Portugal for the second time this summer to take part in his first pre-season tour abroad as a professional footballer.

The 25-year-old midfielder became Reds boss Sam Ricketts' first new signing after turning down the offer of a new contract with Torquay United, who he joined in the summer of 2014 from Plymouth Argyle.

Having never headed out of the United Kingdom for a training break, Young was delighted to find out he would be going to Villamoura in the Algarve with his new team-mates.

"I have never had a pre-season trip aboard," said Young. "Whether it was too much travelling or we did not have the finances to do it, I am not sure.

"It is something new to me and something I am looking forward to.

"All the lads have been saying it is a good trip, the lads are together and it is team-bonding so it should be a good few days."

It was while mulling over the contract offer from Ricketts that he discovered that Wrexham were going to Portugal for the second pre-season in a row.

"I didn't know, it was while I was on holiday and about week before I signed that I found out about going to Portugal for a pre-season trip," said Young.

"That was an added bonus as well as signing so I was happy with that!"

Young's holiday was also in Portugal and not too far from where Wrexham are based.

"I went to Portugal in the summer with the missus and the little one," said Young. "I think about half and hour away from where we are.

"When I found out we were going with Wrexham it was quite funny, she said to me 'you have got to take me with you' but obviously that isn't happening!

"The weather has been nice here all pre-season and I am sure it is going to be nice in Portugal, if not hotter, so I am looking forward to it."

Young is expecting a tough few days training in the Algarve heat - the Reds also face face Portuguese third tier side Louletano Desportes Club in a friendly tomorrow night - but he says the players will be used to the conditions having experienced hot weather since pre-season started.

"Over the next few weeks leading up to the first game it is only going to get tougher," said Young.

"We will put the hours in on the training pitch and in the games, it is just gearing up to that first game of the season.

"I think we have got a couple of double sessions in Portugal and a game tomorrow.

"The heat will take it out of you a little bit but we are going away to get together as a squad but also put in the hard work, ready for two more weeks of pre-season before the first game."

Young has moved away from Devon for the first time but he and his family have settled into their new home and the midfielder is enjoying life at The Racecourse.

"It happened so quickly with the moving date and then starting back for pre-season," said Young.

"Myself, the missus and the little one have settled in okay, I have been in training for two weeks and the lads made me feel welcome straight away.

"I am looking forward to the rest of pre-season and going into the start of pre-season."

Young, like his team-mates, is yet to play for longer than 45 minutes but he knows that will start to change.

"Obviously you put the effort in during training in pre-season and as the games go along, you start using more of what you have done in training for games, having more of a purpose," added Young.

"It is just a case of getting that match fitness back up slowly rather quickly, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, and I am sure over the next few weeks the gaffer will start ramping it up."

Don't miss our exclusive coverage of Wrexham AFC in Portugal all this week, in the Leader and online.

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