Boss says no other club has young players so close to first team football than at Crewe.

Steve Davis is hoping that his own young players can step up to the mark and produce consistent displays at first team level. The Alex boss watched his fringe contingent comfortably defeat Witton Albion 5-0 in the Cheshire Senior Cup on Tuesday evening. Callum Saunders scored twice with Ryan Wintle, Liam O’Neill and Andre Brown also on target for Alex Morris’ side.

The likes of Perry NG, Ryan Colclough and George Cooper also played as they try and make an impression to force their way into the manager’s first-team plans.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “The perfect scenario for us would be for our own players to step up and turn things around for us. I want to see if they can take that challenge on and not have to rely on loan players again.

“We had to sign loan players last season, those like Jamie Ness and Nicky Ajose to help get us some results but it would be great if our own could come through and do that.

“I want them to step up and show that they can play regularly and consistently well at this level. They have to show us that they are reliable enough and good enough to do that.

“Can they produce it or are they are not going to be quite good enough for the level? That is the pressure they are under and if we need them they have to be ready to take that chance.

He added: "There is no other club in the entire country where their young players are so close to the first team. They have to earn the right for a chance and then grab that chance if it comes. They always get chances at Crewe and sometimes get thrown in to see how they do, so its up to them."