Steve says fit again LDV can be invaluable to us in the final 10 games.

Steve Davis says that the fit-again Lauri Dalla Valle will have to ‘hit the ground running’ in the final 10 games of the season.

The club’s Finnish striker scored on his return to action for the Under-21s in a 4-1 win over Birmingham City yesterday and the Crewe boss is hoping that his poachers finish will only increase his confidence.

LDV has not played since suffering ankle ligament damage against Leeds United’s Development Squad back in November.

Steve told crewealex.net: “Lauri knows that he doesn’t have time to wait. A player coming back from injury would usually need four or five games to get that match fitness back but he doesn’t have that at the moment.

“We need him to hit the ground running if and when he plays. He has to use the training to get his sharpness and fitness levels up. Getting that game time for the Under-21s will only benefit him.

“He played 45 minutes and that was planned because it was his first game back. He scored a goal and that will be great for his confidence.

“Charlie Kirk showed some real skill to chip the goalkeeper but I was not surprised that Lauri was alive to it when it hit the crossbar. That is what he does and there is a skill to getting in there and getting your goals.

He added: “As a goal scorer you just have to keep getting in those positions at whatever level you play at. He can have that impact and hopefully he will be invaluable to us in the remaining 10 games.”