DEAN KEATES refuses to compare Jordan Davies with Gareth Bale - but the Wrexham boss admits he has signed an "exceptional football player".

Former academy graduate Davies returns to The Racecourse after leaving Premier League side Brighton in the summer, putting pen to paper on a two-year deal.

Since leaving Wrexham for the Seagulls in January 2017, when he was seen as a left-back, Davies played in more advanced roles, drawing similarities to the way that Wales international Bale's career panned out.

But that's where the comparisons stop as Keates just wants Davies, who hails from Coedpoeth, to be himself.

"Jordan learnt his trade as a left-back, he always had a very nice left foot, but he is not a left-back anymore; the lad has come out and said he has changed as a player," said Keates.

"Jordan has gone down to Brighton, been put into an academy set-up and learned to play different positions in a formation, giving him more strings to his bow.

"He has become a more technical football player.

"I am not going to put any pressure on the kid. Jordan is going to be the best version of himself.

"Would I compare him to how people see Gareth Bale? No I wouldn't, he is different.

"Jordan can play in a few positions. He can play in the midfield two or three, either wide position in a front three or as a 10.

"What he has become is an exceptional football player and he has shown he has got attributes in training with his vision and passes he can pick."