BRYAN HUGHES says his first pre-season tour as manager of Wrexham has been a huge success.

Wrexham headed to the Algarve for the third year in a row for their training camp which ended with a friendly against Portuguese top-flight side Portimonense SC, who edged an entertaining encounter 1-0.

"It has been fantastic," said Hughes.

"We are a big club in the National League but a National League club coming on a pre-season tour to Portugal is fantastic.

"The fanbase that we brought, I hope they enjoyed a really good game of football and more importantly, a good performance from our boys.

"As a whole, I think the trip has been excellent. It brings the group together, it gets them communicating; they are in each other's pockets all day, every day, and that takes you a long way.

"That team-bonding aspect on trips like this when you get into the nitty gritty of a domestic season, when you have got the characters, communication and desire to do a little bit extra for your team-mates because of these trips, it can get you 15-20 points extra a season."

Portimonense took an early lead but Wrexham produced an impressive performance - Bobby Grant hit the woodwork twice in the first half - and Hughes was delighted with the display.

"We played two wide number 10s, just playing off Jason Oswell, and they found pockets of space," said Hughes.

"Bobby on one side, Devonte Redmond on the other side. Really exciting when they got on the ball and got us ticking.

"It gave us the energy levels for the wing-backs to go on and effect the game.

"We do a lot of hard work on the training ground with the players and when a plan comes together, it is nice to see.

"The most pleasing thing is they are buying into what I wanted.

"You can't replicate what you can do in games. The training ground stuff is putting people in patterns of play, putting them in systems, and defensively I thought we were outstanding.

"Everyone knew their roles and responsibilities, and they carried them out to a tee."