Crewe Alexandra's Technical Director Dario Gradi is hoping that the club's new loan signing will improve us as an attacking force. Simon Church has signed on a month's loan from Reading and will go straight into the Crewe side to face Luton Town tomorrow.

Church has caught the eye of the Alex scouts following his fine performances for Reading reserves and the Wales Under-21 squad. First team coach Steve Holland and Assistant Manager Neil Baker saw Church score for the Welsh youngsters during their 3-1 win over Malta and Wrexham and decided to make the move.

Church travelled up to South Cheshire very late last night and will train with his new team-mates today.

Dario told crewealex.net: "Both Neil and Steve went to watch Simon play for the Welsh Under-21's and they know about him from Reading reserves. They have said he is good enough and will improve us, so we have brought him in on a month's loan.

"He will make a difference to us and should improve us. He won't revolutionise us and we shouldn't expect too much, because he is a young lad and Saturday will be his league debut but he has good qualities and is a better option to what we have at the moment. 

"I spoke to Steve Coppell about him yesterday and he was very complimentary about the lad. He told me he has even surprised him by his progress, especially over the last couple of months where he has been outstanding. He thought it would take him a bit longer to come through but he is ready to go out on loan and we are delighted to have got him.

"Steve (Coppell) told me that there have been a few managers onto him about the possibility of taking Simon on loan. He will go straight into the team and although he can play wide, he will play through the middle with Lee (Barnard).