KAI EVANS will only have one thing on his mind in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon and that’s scoring against Chester for his new club Nantwich Town.

Wrexham-born-and-bred, 19-year-old winger Evans is resurrecting his career in Cheshire after being shown the door by his home-town club in the summer.

On Saturday, Nantwich head to Chester for what promises to be a mouth-watering cup derby at The Deva Stadium.

“I’m a Wrexham lad, born in Wrexham and, of course, I want to go to Chester and score,” said Evans, who heads across the border having notched a double in a 2-1 FA Trophy win over Dunston last weekend.

“I’ve never played at Chester before but I know how much it would mean to me to score against them. It would make a few Wrexham fans happy, I know that!”

Nantwich boss Paul Carden described Evans as ‘unplayable at times’ after last Saturday’s win at The Swansway Stadium where defender Scott Butler - on loan from Wrexham - put through his own net,

Carden - the former Chester captain who lifted the Conference title with the Blues in 2003 - told the Nantwich Town Facebook page: “He’s working hard, working hard on his fitness and he’s a real threat for us and at times he’s unplayable when he’s running with the ball.

“But we’ve just got to make sure he’s right as best we can training-wise and with his recovery, because he is so important for us.”

Evans, who scored for Wrexham against The Dabbers in a pre-season friendly in 2022, says playing at Nantwich is giving him a ‘real buzz’.

And the son of former Welsh Premier League star and now Lex XI player-boss, Ricky, has described boss Carden and head-coach Darren Moss - the Wrexham-born defender who also played for the Blues - as ‘first class’.

Being released by Wrexham will always leave a scar for Evans, whose one and only first team appearance came in front of the TV cameras in last season’s FA Cup win over Oldham Athletic at The Racecourse.

“Wrexham gave me the opportunity and I’ll never forget that, especially coming on as a sub against Oldham,” added Evans, who struggled with a back injury last season before Reds first team boss Phil Parkinson announced his retained list.

“It was gutting when the gaffer called me in to say I was being released but he told me it was nothing to do with my ability.

“That’s made me more want to work hard and work my way back up the leagues.”

Evans, whose uncle is the former Wrexham and Wales defender Steve, believes the English pyramid system - Nantwich are now in the Northern Premier Division One West League - is the best pathway for him to get noticed and earn himself a move to a National League club in the future.

Asked whether his family are good at passing on their advice, Evans replied: “Steve tells me to keeping working hard but my dad gives me the most advice and the most b**********s!”