Gudjon Thordarson is looking forward to the club's opening friendly match of the season at neighbours Newcastle Town. The Alex boss is likely to give the majority of his squad a run-out at the Lyme Valley Stadium with just Danny Shelley and Steven Schumacher struggling for full fitness.

Thordarson who was a regular visitor to Newcastle during his time at Stoke City says he is very much looking forward to taking Crewe to the stadium for what will be his first pre-season in charge of the club. Kick off is at 2.30pm on Sunday with prices set at £5.50 for adults and £3 for concessions.

Ahead of our first warm-up game of the close season Gudjon told the club's official web-site: "I am looking forward to it because it will give me and Steve (Davis) a chance to assess the players. I will play my best side but all of them will get a chance to impress.

"I will be interested to see how the players are going to take themselves forward and how the shape looks. It will also be interesting to see how the new signings are going to fit it into things and it will be a good day.

"Newcastle are a great little club and I have many friends there that I first made when I was at Stoke. They are good people and it will nice to meet up with them again. I am looking forward to it and I'm sure there will be a number of Crewe fans there. There usually is when we play one of our neighbours."