Boss On Inman's Strengths

Steve Davis says he will look to gradually introduce his new loan midfielder Brad Inman into his first-team squad. Inman has signed on an initial one-month loan from Premier League side Newcastle United as potential cover for captain Luke Murphy and Abdul Osman. With Osman suffering with an ankle injury earlier in the season, Davis did not want to risk going into the busy Christmas period with only the relatively inexperienced Ollie Turton and Billy Waters as back up.

Inman featured for the club’s Under-21 side at Nottingham Forest on Monday and went the closest to giving us another win at that level. He had Crewe’s best opportunity in the goalless draw.

Davis has bought in the 20-year-old due to his attacking instincts: “Brad did fine for the Under-21s on Monday and we thought he would because he has been in good form at that level for Newcastle.

The boss added: “We will continue to assess him and gradually think about bringing him into the group. He will continue to train and settle in.

"Brad is an attacking midfield player with an eye for a goal and he can also play up there behind the striker. His strengthens are his movement in and around the opposition box and being creative. He is calm and composed on the ball and I think he wanted to test himself in competitive football. We didn’t want to go until January having to rely on what we have."