Danny Ward happy to be back in Wrexham's starting XI
After coming on for the second half in the 3-0 win against Melbourne Victory during the first game of the pre-season tour Down Under, the Wales international was back between the posts from the start on Tuesday as Wrexham suffered a 2-1 defeat to Sydney FC.
Before he made the switch Liverpool in January 2012, Ward made one competitive appearance in the Welsh Cup against Airbus in December 2011 and the 32-year-old was delighted to be back in the starting XI in front of more than 40,000 fans at The Allianz Stadium.
He told the club's YouTube channel: 'It's a lot different surroundings to where I would have been a long time ago.
'It was a really good feeling. It feels like it's been a long time coming, and it's very surreal.
"The club I left a long time ago has completely changed now.
'Coming to an arena like this, the other side of the world and drawing a crowd of over 40,000, being a part of that… I think it was a brilliant occasion and I'm really proud about it."
Wrexham took an 18th minute with an own goal from a James McClean free kick and after Ollie Rathbone limped off, there was a further blow for the Reds on the stroke of half-time when Sydney levelled.
Parkinson made 10 changes on the hour mark before the A-League side grabbed the winner but Ward felt it was another good work-out in the Reds' build-up to the new Championship campaign which kicks-off against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday August 9.
"A lot of the boys got 60 minutes under their belt which is the main part of pre-season," said Ward. "It is to get ourselves up to that level of fitness where we can start to compete.
"Apart from Ollie getting a knock, coming through that is another step in the development to get to that match fitness.
"It is difficult for boys to come on then for the last 30 minutes with lots of changes.
"Credit to Sydney as well, they put in a real shift. Showed some flashes of some real nice stuff and pressured really well.
"All-in-all, a good workout and something which will hold us in good stead going into Wellington."
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Wrexham have moved onto New Zealand for the final game of the tour where they will face Wellington Phoenix at The Sky Stadium tomorrow morning (6.30pm kick-off).
"The manager is big on getting us to integrate and get back to what has made Wrexham successful over the last few years," added Ward.
"There will be new players like myself where you forge new relationships on and off the pitch so these games are huge for that sort of chemistry..
"We are looking forward to what I am sure will be a tough game in Wellington, hopefully another big crowd and another good test for us."
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