Academy youngster Liam Nolan makes impression in pre-season

Promising youngster Liam Nolan has certainly made an impression with his pre-season performances and assistant manager Neil Baker says that he lanky 18-year-old could prove to be the stand-in for Abdul Osman this season if needs be. Osman was arguably Crewe's best performer at Nantwich Town at the weekend and showed his utility by playing on the right hand side of midfield in the mid-week defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

Baker told the club's official web-site: "Some of our supporters might not be aware of Liam or seen him play all that often but he might just do what Abdul (Osman) does for us. He isn't going to come in and spray Murphy-like passes around but what he  has got is that he is comfortable on the ball. He isn't not embarrassed on the ball and does the simple things well. He is also good at defending with his head and if he can get his head on things in both boxes and add goals to his game that he can be a really good asset to us. He would tick a lot of boxes.

He added: "He is a work in progress at the moment but he works hard and is a lovely lad to work with."