Boss explains reasons for letting Adam get some game time

Steve Davis has allowed Adam Dugdale to go out on loan to Tranmere Rovers because he believes that the centre-half needs games to regain his sharpness. Dugdale has joined Ronnie Moore’s side on a one-month deal with Davis explaining that the popular defender is still very much part of his first-team plans.

Dugdale missed the end of last season due to compassionate grounds and he has struggled to find a way into Steve Davis’ first team after suffering a slight injury in pre-season. The Liverpool-born defender recently played in a behind the scenes friendly against Burnley on Tuesday.

Steve told crewealex.net: “We initially said no to Adam going out on loan because Thierry (Audel) and Harry (Davis) had that collision in training but once we knew that they were not too bad and would be fine, we re-looked at it.

“We then agreed for Duggy to go out on a month’s loan to Tranmere. It will do him good and it’s good for him because he needs games.

he came in and admitted that he needed to go out and play competitive football again. “The game against Burnley reflected the point that he needed game time. The more tired he got, the more mistakes he made in the last few minutes and

“He hasn’t been able to play competitive football for a while now because of what happened last season and he then picked up an injury in the closed season.

“He is still part of my long term plans and I’ve told him that. It is just about him getting some games and I’ve said that he goes there and does well and we are not doing so well at the back then we would revisit it.

He added: “I would have preferred to have loaned him to a League Two club but Tranmere came in and that is good for Duggy. Why not? It is where we are and it will be the sort of test he needs. It is an opportunity to get his fitness back. “