NEW Wrexham striker Matt Derbyshire has revealed he joined the Dragons on the advice of Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes.

The highly-rated 19-year-old, who begins his one-month loan stint at the Racecourse Ground this morning, has been allowed to join Wrexham because of the ongoing injury problems at the League Two club.

After Juan Ugarte returned to Crewe Alexandra earlier this week with a serious knee injury that could rule him out for several months, Dragons boss Denis Smith wasted no time in contacting Wrexham-born Hughes at Blackburn to enquire about the youngster.

And Derbyshire, who has spent time on loan at Plymouth Argyle already this season, explained how the former Wales boss told him the experience at Wrexham would help his development.

"The gaffer called me into his office and told me that Wrexham wanted me to go down there," said Derbyshire. "He felt it would be good for me to get some games under my belt.

"I think he's good friends with Denis Smith and he had a lot of positive stuff to say about Wrexham.

"Mark is a very good manager to play under. He looks after me and the other young lads.

"When he takes you into his office, he always says the right things.

"He is like a big dad." Derbyshire, who will turn 20 in April, hopes his spell at the Racecourse will give him the opportunity to benefit from a sustained period of first-team football.

"Whichever club you're playing for, you've got to try and impress the manager," he added.

"I just want to get some more games and score some more goals.

"I'm looking forward to my time with Wrexham though and I've been down to the club to meet the gaffer and his assistant Kevin Russell. They seem like very good people."

The Blackburn youngster was loaned out to the Pilgrims at the start of the season but found his opportunities limited after a change in management at the Devon outfit.

He said: "I scored a hat-trick for Plymouth's reserves in September but on the same day, the manager Bobby Williamson was sacked.

"Bobby had wanted to have a look at me and give me the chance to show what I could do, but almost as soon as I'd been brought in, he was gone."

Derbyshire started for Plymouth during caretaker boss Jocky Scott's tenure but was limited to brief outings as a substitute once Tony Pulis took over.

His lack of first- team activity prompted Rovers to recall him in the New Year but Derbyshire insists he has no regrets about his stint in the West Country.

He said: "I played in 12 first-team games and it was a good experience for me and helped me to learn a few things.

"However, I've come to Wrexham to try and play in every single game.

"I've haven't played first-team football for a while and I think I needed it a bit."

Derbyshire wasted no time getting back into the groove at Ewood Park, netting in the reserves' 2-2 draw with Aston Villa just three days ago.

Although he is obviously excited about the chance to play first-team football again, the experience is unlikely to faze the 19-year-old striker, who has already tasted life in the Premiership having come on as a substitute at Ewood Park for Rovers' 3-1 home defeat against Fulham on May 7 last year.

His rapid rise from being a Rovers fan to first-team player came less than two years after a move from North West Counties League club Great Harwood Town, but Derbyshire revelled at the chance to play alongside his boyhood heroes.

He said: "Of course it seemed funny at first, being in the same squad as some of the players I'd been watching from the stands a few months earlier but I took it all in my stride, worked hard and it's paid off.

"I'd been working at Rovers, coaching the kids for the football in the community scheme but was spotted playing for my non-league side.

"Playing in the Premiership for Blackburn was a great experience for a fan like me. I came on and managed to get a few crosses in and it felt very good."

Derbyshire starts training with the Dragons at Colliers Park today and has got just 48 hours to try and strike up a partnership with fellow loan man Sam Williams ahead of Saturday's trip to Macclesfield Town.

He said: "I can't remember seeing Sam play but I'm hopeful we can hit it off together and the manager obviously thinks we can.

"He's a different type of striker to myself who wins headers in the air and brings those around him into the game.

"I'd describe my own style as someone who likes to get in behind the defenders and is pretty quick.

"The manager (Denis Smith) has been very unlucky with injuries to his strikers so he's done well to get Sam and me in. "I'm just looking forward to hopefully playing at Macclesfield on Saturday and it will also be a chance for some friends and family to see me play.

"I'm expecting my girlfriend to come down while my mum and dad might be there too."

* TWO early goals from Preston left winger Iain Howard condemned Wrexham reserves to a 2-0 defeat in the Pointins League at Buckley last night.

With the game coming just 24 hours after North End's FA Cup replay victory at Crystal Palace, the visitors fielded a youthful line-up with only goalkeeper Chris Neal boasting experience in their Championship squad.

Wrexham: Michael Jones, Harris, Done, Bayliss, Evans, Mike Williams, Gray, Smith, Marc Williams, Braisdell, Chris Evans.