‘Me or someone else’ – Arthur Okonkwo ready for Wrexham No.1 fight despite being marquee signing for Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney

The 22-year-old goalkeeper has returned to North Wales on a permanent basis after enjoying a productive loan spell with the Red Dragons last season. He was snapped up by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney after reaching the end of his contract at Arsenal and becoming a free agent.

Okonkwo is expected to be one of the first names on Phil Parkinson’s team sheet, but he has told The Leader of having to earn that starting berth: “In the goalkeeper position, you can be in the squad and then out of the squad. I have to compete every single week, not only for myself but for the team as well. When you want to win, it can be very draining but you have to be very consistent and we will definitely need a goalkeeper who is consistent next season in League One. Whether that is me or someone else, I always say that it is all about the team. As long as everyone has the same mentality of winning, that is the most important thing.”

Wrexham have returned for pre-season tests and the start of training, with Okonkwo looking for the groundwork to be put in place on which another successful campaign can be built. He added: “It all starts from pre-season. The team will come together again and starting from day one, we need to get ready to be in League One to compete because it is going to be really difficult. There are some great teams in this league and it is not going to be easy at all. But I am sure with the team we have and with the gaffer, we will be ready to compete.”

Okonkwo kept 16 clean sheets through 40 appearances in all competitions last season, while nursing a broken jaw at one stage, and is looking forward to testing himself in League One – with there the promise of more transfer business to come from Hollywood co-owners.