PRE-SEASON can be a chore for some footballers but Chris Holroyd couldn't wait to return to training with Wrexham.

Experienced striker Holroyd missed the final four games last season because of a toe injury and had to watch from the sidelines as the Reds' promotion challenge collapsed during a dreadful run-in.

Now fully-healed, Holroyd, who finished leading scorer with 13 goals last term, has reported no ill-effects following Wrexham's early sessions at a sun-basked Nine Ace and he is looking forward to the start of the 2018-19 campaign.

"It was enjoyable to be back in," said Holroyd, who also missed a month at the start of last season after dislocating a shoulder in the opening day defeat against former club Macclesfield Town.

"I have been looking forward to it to be honest.

"The season ended early for me so it has been quite a long wait to get back to the football and I enjoyed it.

"The toe feels good. Obviously I gave it a good amount of time and everything has fully healed now.

"It was frustrating to miss the end of the season with the situation we were in.

"We were pushing to get in the play-offs so from a personal point of view it was disappointing that I couldn't do anything to help the lads in that sense.

"I am just looking forward now to this season."

Wrexham manager Sam Ricketts had the balls out on the first day rather than just take the players on long runs and Holroyd says the early signs are good after working with the former Wales international for the first time.

"It was good," said Holroyd. "The first day has changed quite a lot nowadays compared to the older days.

"A lot more thought goes into it now and the gaffer has really thought through the way he wants to structure the pre-season which is good for the players to have that in your mind, knowing how it is going to progress."

Wrexham face Lex XI at Stansty Park in their opening friendly on Friday and Holroyd has welcomed having a match just a few days into pre-season.

"It is early for a game but I think it is good to get a game in early," said Holroyd.

"We will have a good week of training, we have also had the balls out which is also good so hopefully by Friday, everyone will be up to speed with their touch and it will be good."

Holroyd is the only senior striker currently under contract for Wrexham's 11th season in non-league.

But the 31-year-old is not alarmed, remembering that fellow frontmen Scott Boden, Ntumba Massanka and Alex Reid hadn't signed when pre-season kicked-off 12 months ago.

"I think it was a similar situation last year," said Holroyd. "Only trialist Gime Toure was here last year with me.

"There is plenty of time left for the gaffer to make signings.

"The gaffer has made a point of wanting to bring in some real quality which is good. It is what you need in this league."

Whoever comes in between now and the big kick-off on August 4, Holroyd wants to build on the positives from last season.

"In stages last season we showed we really improved as a team," added Holroyd.

"It is just kind of taking the good parts of last season forward into this season and improving on that."