Dario Gradi is hoping that striker Danny Gardner can develop into another prolific striker after being signed until the end of the season. The former Celtic youngster has been on trial with the club for the past month and has certainly done enough to impress the Crewe Alexandra coaching staff.

He has secured a deal until the summer and boss Gradi suggests that he is already being considered for a longer stay at Gresty Road dependant on how he does over the next few months.

Dario told crewealex.net: "Danny has really come from nowhere but he is a real goer. He works hard, has a lot of enthusiasm and is really competitive. He doesn't have the pace of say a Donaldson but he can be a handful like him because he works hard.

"It couldn't be an overnight thing with him because he doesn't have a record to look at but what we have seen of him, he likes to get in the box, has good techniques and is fine physically. The aim now is to see if ha can make a real impact.

"He could have been on the bench on Friday (at Burton) if he had been eligible because he is that close. We have taken him until the end of the season and if I didn't think he would have a chance of being included in the squad for next season then I wouldn't have taken him."