KEVIN ROBERTS says patience will be the key to a successful season.

Wrexham are preparing for an 11th campaign in non-league under Sam Ricketts who is taking his first steps in management and is tasked with trying to realise the Reds' promotion dream.

Pre-season is well underway and Roberts admits the emphasis has been on players being patient in their build-up as they attempt to unlock opposition defences.

The defender feels Wrexham are starting to show in friendlies that don't need to have a hurried approach in trying to break down teams.

"Some of the stuff we have been working on in pre-season come out and showed in the game in Portugal, the way the lads moved the ball towards the end of the first half was really good," said Roberts.

"I thought last year we did try and force it a little bit too much.

"We have got to be a bit more patient this season to break teams down when they come here and some people stick 10 men behind the ball.

"That is what the gaffer has been working on, switching the play and waiting for the right opportunity."

Fans will be hoping Wrexham's attacking play will lead to more goals in 2018-19.

The Reds were one of the lowest scorers in the division last season, netting just 49 times in 46 games.

Although he knows that statistic must improve, Roberts admits the players need to create more chances as a team.

"We definitely need to score more goals," said Roberts.

"But also create more opportunities as a team and that includes the defence as well.

"The same way as the attackers and midfielders help us defend as a team, we need to help them get more goal scoring opportunities which we have been working on a good bit in pre-season.

"Hopefully we can balance them both out."

Fellow defenders Shaun Pearson, Manny Smith and James Jennings contributed with a healthy return of goals but Roberts is still looking for his first goal in a Wrexham shirt since joining from Halifax Town last summer, although he says there is a good reason why he has not been on the scoresheet.

"I would love a goal!" said Roberts. "But the other defenders go up for corners, I am normally the one that stays back.

"If they let me up and I don't score I will hold my hands up but I think if I went up for corners I would get a few goals."

Roberts missed the friendly against Portuguese side Louletano at the impressive Estadio Argarve due to a groin injury.

Although disappointed not to get a run-out at a stadium that hosted matches in the 2004 European Championships, Roberts prefers to look at the bigger picture.

"It was a lovely stadium but more importantly I would liked to have got some minutes in my legs," added Roberts, who wasn't risked in Tuesday's 2-2 draw at Bangor.

"But at this stage of pre-season it is not worth risking anything.

"It is nothing major and I will be training again this week so even though it was a nice ground, you don't want to make things worse.

"The season hasn't started yet, obviously you want to play games and get your fitness up but having a few days or a week of making sure it is right won't do any major damage fitness wise."