JAMES JENNINGS believes the pre-season tour in Portugal will give Wrexham a huge boost when they attempt to challenge for promotion in 2018-19.

Wrexham set off on a training break in Portugal today with the Reds party based in Vilamoura in the Algarve.

An open training session is being held at Vale do Lobo tomorrow and Sam Ricketts' men will face Portuguese third tier side Louletano Desportes Club in a friendly at the 30,305 seat capacity Estádio Algarve, located near the town of Almancil, on Wednesday evening.

Wrexham, with Jennings in the squad after completing his move to The Racecourse, held a similar venture 12 months ago and the left-back says the Portugal trip is invaluable when it comes to team-bonding.

"I thought it was great last year for a number of reasons," said Jennings.

"Being away and playing against different opposition who play good football themselves, and also getting to know the new lads, a bit of team bonding.

"You room with different players and everyone has got a new player in their room so you get to know the players a little bit more, it brings them out of their shells.

"I think team bonding is quite crucial throughout the season, that team spirit gets you a lot of points throughout the season so I am really looking forward to it."

Ricketts will hold a number of training sessions in the Portuguese heat but with the UK basking in sunshine for the last few weeks, Jennings says the players are used to the hot weather.

"The training is tough with the heat but the way the weather has been over here the last few weeks, we are used to it," said Jennings.

"It is not going to be anything harder than what we have had in terms of heat wise.

"It is a great set-up there at Vale de Lobo, the training pitches are really good.

"It has been difficult training at Nine Acre with how hard it is and the lack of water we have had but they have got sprinklers over there so hopefully we won't get too many blisters.

"There will be a couple of sessions a day and a game on Wednesday night in a big stadium so I am looking forward to it."

Close to 1,000 fans made the trip last summer and with another sizeable following once again travelling to Portugal this year, Jennings admits the new players will be taken aback by the numbers.

"No doubt we will take quite a lot of fans over there and the new lads can see what Wrexham is about," said Jennings.

"The lads who came in last year got a shock when 700 or 800 fans took over! It will be good."

Jennings missed the first week of pre-season as he was on a holiday that had already been booked.

He went with Ricketts' backing but Jennings has had a week's training under his belt and he returned to action in Saturday's friendly against Airbus which Wrexham won 2-0.

"The gaffer was really understanding, he was great about it," said Jennings. "I spoke to him about it and explained the situation.

"It is great to be back in and see the lads, and get back into the swing of things."

Jennings, like his team-mates, got a 45 minute run-out at The Airfield as Wrexham beat their Cymru Alliance hosts to make it two wins in a row in pre-season.

"It was nice to get the boots back on, get back out there and get some minutes in the bank," added Jennings.

"A good run-out and a bit of fitness for all the boys, and look to try and implement what the gaffer has been asking us to do."