Danny Ward at Yankee Stadium (Image: Wrexham AFC)
Danny Ward at Yankee Stadium (Image: Wrexham AFC)
DANNY WARD believes a tough pre-season schedule will play its part in helping Wrexham to eventually climb to where they want to be.
Phil Parkinson's Reds are exclusively coming up against top flight opposition ahead of their second season back in the Championship.
They are currently on a three-match tour of the USA, with games against Premier League sides Leeds United, Liverpool and Sunderland.
Goalkeeper Ward, who started the 1-0 midweek defeat to Liverpool at New York's Yankee Stadium, told the club's YouTube channel: "As a footballer, you want to play the best, you know.
"You want to test yourself against someone at a level that you want to get to. And that's ultimately where we'd like to get this club to.
"So, yeah, real good workout (against Liverpool). Disappointed not to win, of course.
"You know, pre-season or not, it's always not nice not to win. Plenty of positives and some real good work, and we move on now to the next game against Sunderland."
This will be played in Philadelphia, the home city of Wrexham co-owner Rob Mac.
It will bring the curtain down on a testing pre-season, which began with a 0-0 draw away to Polish top flight outfit Wisla Krakow.
Sam Smith grabbed the only goal when Wrexham got the better of Premier League giants Manchester United in Helsinki, while he was on the scoresheet again when the Reds opened their USA tour with a 3-2 win over Leeds in Tampa.
Kieffer Moore's first minute strike and a first Wrexham goal for Bailey Cadamarteri added to the tally.