NOTHING Chris Llewellyn has seen during the first half of the season has undermined his belief that Wrexham can complete a back-to-back promotion success.

The 24-year-old Welsh international, who joined the Second Division club during the summer, is one of only four ever-presents in the Dragons' league campaign to date, which underlines the value placed on him by manager Denis Smith.

But the former Norwich City player admits he has yet to fully deliver for the Racecourse club, having scored just once in 21 outings.

"It's not been happening for me in front of goal at the moment," he said yesterday. "I want to be hitting the back of the net regularly. At the moment it's too often been the case of so near, yet so far.

"I've been putting the ball just the wrong side of the post or the goalkeeper has been in just the right place. I have enough confidence in my own ability to believe that it's simply a matter of time as long as I keep on getting into the right areas."

Llewellyn said he had no regrets about stepping down from the First Division to join the Dragons and is confident the best is yet to come from the team.

"It's obviously a bit different because the First Division is packed with experienced players, many of whom have played in the Premiership," he added.

"But I said when I came here that I felt a side coming up from the Third Division would surprise a few people by making another sustained bid for promotion. I've seen no reason to change my opinion.

"We are up there in the leading pack. If we can have a good Christmas programme, we'll still be there in the mix at the right time.

"We have played all the better sides at least once. While I think Queens Park Rangers are the best, I also feel we played them off the park and were unlucky to lose the game.

"That gives us the confidence to believe that on our day we can beat anyone."

Llewellyn, though, is taking nothing for granted.

"The quality of the football in the Second Division has impressed me and there are one or two very good sides, who could easily hold their own at the higher level," he said.

"Others depend on bullying the opposition to get results as a way of making up for what they lack in skill, which has been something of a challenge for me.

"But I've come to terms with that and I like to think I'm now coping okay with a side to the game which I didn't particularly relish before."

Injuries to Chris Armstrong and Lee Jones have forced Wrexham to shuffle their options, with Llewellyn alternating as an out-and-out striker or playing just behind a front two.

And the manager's faith in his ability to make a telling contribution has not been lost on him. "It always takes a new player some time to settle in and the manager has been great, giving me plenty of time and putting me under no pressure at all," added Llewellyn.

"I wouldn't say the best part of my game is holding the ball up. But that's what he wants me to do and I'm happy with that.

"As time goes by, you get more in tune with the players around you. Hopefully that will continue to develop as the season goes on."

With no reserve team match this week, Smith is hoping that a trio of injured players will respond to treat-ment in the next few days and declare themselves available for the busy Christmas period.

Defender Craig Morgan has stepped up his work as he recovers from a hamstring strain, while knee injury victims Armstrong and Steve Roberts are also making good progress.

Smith said: "I was going to organise a friendly, but with the three injured lads and Darren Ferguson suspended, there's no point in taking a chance that someone else could get hurt."