Steve says youngsters deserve to be involved with first-team squad after picking up displays.

Crewe Alexandra’s squad for the trip to Swindon this weekend will contain the likes of James Baillie, Perry Ng, Joe Howell and Callum Ainley, but boss Steve Davis and his staff feel that the Academy graduates deserve their chance. Ainley has been recalled to the squad for the trip to Wiltshire and Howell is travelling with the first-team squad for the first time in his career.

Ahead of this weekend’s clash at the County Ground, Steve said: “It will be a young bench at Swindon but that is what this club is about. Callum Ainley will come back into it after dropping back to the Under-18s for a bit and Joe (Howell) will be travelling for the first time.

“They have deserved that and Joe has worked hard over the last month or so to get himself going again.

“We spoke to him a few weeks ago and told him that he would be a ‘no’ going forward unless he got himself going again. To be fair to him, he has taken that on board and has responded.

 "Joe has become more competitive out on the pitch and that was an aspect of his game we felt he needed to improve upon.

“He is competing more on the pitch and putting himself about and that has made him a better player because we know he is a very technical and skilful player.

Steve added: “He has trained well and now he has to work hard, so I can trust him and look to give him his full debut.”