CHRISTIAN DIBBLE is relishing the battle to be Wrexham number one.

The 24-year-old, brought in last summer by Dean Keates, was Chris Dunn’s understudy for the 2017-18 campaign but he was offered a new deal by incoming manager Sam Ricketts and has put pen to paper on a two year contract.

Dunn was among the players released and Rob Lainton, who has arrived on a season long loan from League Two side Port Vale, is Dibble's rival to be first choice goalkeeper

Dibble welcomed the competition but he has set his sights firmly on starting the 2018-19 campaign between the posts for the Reds.

"I trained with Rob at Bury a couple of years ago and he is a good lad," said Dibble.

"I can only see it being beneficial for me and Rob to push each other and battle it out for the number one shirt.

"You need healthy competition, that is what spurs everyone on.

"We are going to battle it out with each other and we are good team-mates but on the training ground it is a different thing, we are both working hard and are both eager to play.

"I am going to do everything I can to try and play."

But Dibble knows that Lainton is equally desperate to get the nod.

"Rob will say the same thing, he wants to be number one," said Dibble.

"Either I am going to be number one or he is going to be number one so we are both going to be working hard.

"Of course I want to be number one, that has got to the aim."

Dibble made five league appearances during the 2017-18 campaign season, the last coming at Torquay on September 9 before his run in the side came to a premature end because of an ingrowing hair that required surgery.

Although he impressed in the games he played, saving two penalties, Dibble failed to win his place back with Dunn helping Wrexham challenge for promotion.

Pleased with how he performed, Dibble hopes to help Wrexham launch a fresh bid for honours.

"Last year when I played I did well and then I got injured," said Dibble.

"The aim is to play this year so we will just see what happens but the main thing is the team and we want to be up there as well."

Dibble, son of former Wales international Andy who helped Wrexham win promotion under Denis Smith in 2002-03, saw his quest to be first choice thwarted because of a groin injury sustained in last week's friendly against Louletano DC during the Reds' pre-season tour of Portugal.

"It was a back-pass, I managed to turn the striker and as I put my foot into the ground I over-stretched my thigh," said Dibble, who wasn't risked in last night's 2-2 draw at Bangor City.

"Hopefully it is not too long but if feels good at the moment."

Dibble was disappointed he had to come off early on in the clash with Portuguese third tier outfit Louletano at the impressive Estadio Algarve.

"I enjoyed the trip," added Dibble. "The training pitches are nice and it was good training out there.

"We got our work in and it was nice to get away into a different setting.

"We had another game, 90 minutes for a few players, but I was gutted I had to come off after 20 minutes because I wanted to play.

"It was a nice venue but I didn't want to carry on and make it worse."