WREXHAM return for pre-season today and Sam Ricketts can't wait to get out on the training ground.

Former Wales international Ricketts has taken up his first managerial appointment at The Racecourse and will oversee the Reds' 11th season in non-league.

Although he has been working hard behind the scenes to strengthen his squad, Ricketts is looking forward to preparing for the 2018-19 campaign with his players.

"This is where I feel like I am busy now!" said Ricketts. "It will be really good to start work on the pitch.

"The most important thing about pre-season is fitness levels and getting the detail of how we want to play this year to the players.

"We will get the balls out straight away. It will be fitness work with balls.

"Nowadays, players look after themselves far better than what they used to so they come back in pretty good shape.

"That means that we can get the balls out straight away as opposed to the old fashioned days when you went running for a week or two."

Wrexham's programme of friendlies begins with a clash against Welsh National League side Lex XI at Stansty Park on Friday evening.

"The Lex game is a good opportunity to meet everyone," said Ricketts. "That will be really good and a good way to end the first week."

Two trialists are set to link-up with Wrexham for the start of pre-season while winger Jack Mackreth, one of seven players released by Ricketts last month, could also be involved to let him work on his fitness.

"There will be a couple of trialists at the minute. Two, just to see where we are up to," said Ricketts.

"There is also the possibility of Jack coming in.

"If he wasn't fixed up, I offered him to come and do pre-season with us, get fit and look after himself.

"He is a good lad, a good character. I have been at many clubs where you try and help players.

"I am not sure how long Jack will train with us but it will help him with his fitness going into next season."

It remains to be see how many senior players Ricketts will have to face Lex.

Ricketts, who wants to go into the new season with an 18-man squad, inherited seven players - Shaun Pearson, Manny Smith, Kevin Roberts, James Jennings, Akil Wright, Nicky Deverdics and Leo Smith - who are already under contract, with Sam Wedgbury leaving by mutual consent because of personal reasons.

Four more - Chris Holroyd, Christian Dibble, Mark Carrington and Paul Rutherford - have agreed new deals while Doug Tharme is expected to make the step-up from the youth team and put pen to paper on his first professional contract.

Midfielder Luke Young left Torquay to join Wrexham and become Ricketts' first and only new signing to date, and the Reds' boss hopes more follow imminently.

"Just the one new face so far but potential signings coming in at any moment," said Ricketts. "They will come as and when available.

"There are offers in for a few, I am trying to fight with a few league clubs for a couple.

"It is a work in progress but a few will probably be well into pre-season loan-wise."

Ricketts, who has put the emphasis on quality rather than quantity, insists he won't rush into making new signings for the sake of it.

"Like anything, it is just about getting the right players," added Ricketts. "They have got to be good enough players first and foremost, and they have to be the right character on top of that.

"Then there is trying to get the deal done financially as well so there are a lot of hoops you have to go through to get any player.

"I would rather take longer now and get the right players. The year we won League One at Wolves, I was the only signing up until the season got underway.

"I would like more than just one before the start of the season but it is about getting players for the right quality at the right time rather than just rushing in."