Form of Ben Garratt puts moves for loan 'keeper on hold for now

Steve Davis has admitted that the current form of his young goalkeeper Ben Garratt has put any move for a loanee goalkeeper on hold for the time being. The England youth goalkeeper produced one of his finest displays of his young career to deny James Hanson two point-blank headers against Bradford City on Saturday.

His performance even earned rave reviews from the Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson and captain Gary Jones.

The Crewe boss has been suitably impressed with Garratt’s progress and has stressed that the 19-year-old is very much in possession of the number one jersey at the moment.

With Alan Martin departing the club by mutual consent in the January window, Crewe are relying on Garratt, a fit-again Steve Phillips and then Youth Cup goalkeeper Robbie Johnson.

Steve had been keen to bring in another goalkeeper on loan but says the form of Garratt means he is in no rush at the moment.

Steve told crewealex.net: “Ben is in the team to make me change my mind about rushing into something that I felt was necessary at the time.

He has shown improvement and if he continues there is no reason to change it. “It's become less necessary although I still might do something.

The boss added: “He has to keep going and keep learning and if keeps playing like he did at the weekend he'll keep his place.”