ONE of football's quiet men, Mark Jones is more than happy to let his feet do the talking out on the pitch.

But, at his present rate of progress, the young Wrexham midfielder will soon be finding it increasingly difficult to stay out of the limelight.

Jones, who made his first start for the Dragons in the recent LDV Vans Trophy defeat at Stockport, has emerged as a strong candidate to fill the boots of club captain Darren Ferguson, who starts a three-match suspension this weekend.

The 20-year-old from Rhos, who only turned professional with his local club in the summer, admits he is as surprised as anybody at how quickly his career has moved forward in a short space of time.

Not only has the midfielder started to build up his tally of Wrexham appearances this season - he first appeared for the senior side as a last-minute substitute against Exeter in September 2002 - but he also won his first Wales under-21 cap in the final match of the recent European Championship qualifying campaign against Serbia-Montenegro.

"I thought I wouldn't be involved so much this season," Jones said. "Especially after only playing 30 minutes in pre-season at the Isle of Man Tournament.

"But I have come off the bench 10 times so far and got my first start at Stockport."

Even though the Dragons were beaten at Edgeley Park on the silver goal rule, Jones was able to look back on the game with a degree of personal satisfaction.

Apart from making his full debut, he recorded his second senior goal for Denis Smith's side, finding the net from distance just nine minutes into the game.

Now he hopes a run of first-team starts will provide him with a chance to show the Racecourse fans what he can do.

He said: "I have enjoyed going on as a substitute, but it's even better being on from the beginning, as I discovered against Stockport, when playing alongside Paul Barrett and Matty Crowell."

Jones took a nasty knock to his calf in the 0-0 home draw against Wycombe Wanderers last Saturday, just moments after coming on as a late substitute, but he is confident he will be fit for selection when the Dragons travel to Brighton this weekend.

"It hurt at the time," said the youngster, who hopes to play for the Reserves against Bury at the Racecourse tonight (7pm).

"But you're concentrating on the game and I didn't notice it too much.

"It was only afterwards, back in the dressing-room that the calf seized up and I couldn't walk!

"The doctor told me to keep a close eye on the bruising, but the swelling has gone down now and I'm looking forward to playing for the reserves against Bury."

Jones faces a fitness test ahead of tonight's match, the Dragons' first Pontins League fixture for seven weeks, and is one of several players hoping to press their first-team claims.

Shaun Holmes will return after recovering from a groin strain, while Steve Roberts also gains valuable match practice, having overcome a calf injury.

* WREXHAM supporters travelling to Saturday's Nationwide Division Two match at Brighton are reminded that the game is all-ticket and none will be available on the day at the Withdean Stadium. Tickets are on sale from the Racecourse during office hours up until Friday afternoon.