Steve backing the kids to put those in his starting XI under pressure for places.

Steve Davis has told crewealex.net that the club’s youngsters will get their chance to stake their claim for a place. The Alex boss may choose to introduce one or two from the substitutes’ bench this evening but he will go with a strong side against Wigan Athletic for our Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie.

The Crewe boss told the club’s official web-site: “The young players will get their opportunities. That may not necessary mean that it will come again Wigan but they will get their chances over the season.

“They have to be prepared and ready and when it comes they have to come in and do the job. When young players come in they can play with no fear and have that point to prove.

He added: “We have a nucleus of good young players here and we believe they will be good enough. They have to play well and become consistent. They have to earn that right and play well for the Under-21s and train well every day and if they do then the pathway into our first-team is there for them because we need to play our young players and then sell them on.”