Boss says youngsters can provide surprise factor.

Steve Davis admits that it is a big ask for the younger element of his squad to become consistent match winners for us this season but the Crewe Alexandra boss stresses that the surprise factor may come into play.

Although Crewe are involved in a relegation battle at the bottom of the League One table, Davis has always been willing to place his faith in Academy graduates such as George Cooper, Callum Saunders and the even younger Callum Ainley and Charlie Kirk.

Davis knows that young players often play with ‘no fear’ and he has not hesitated in bringing Ainley, Kirk, midfielder Joe Howell and defender Perry NG off the bench in recent weeks.

Steve told crewealex.net: “We don’t have a lot of experience on the bench and it is a big ask of them to come in and change the game for us. With young players you never quite know what they are going to produce but that is the Crewe way and we won’t be doing any differently.

“We know what they are all capable of but it is different in League One. You just don’t what you would get if you started with Callum or Charlie. They came on and did really well at Chesterfield and looked fine but it’s a bit different coming off the bench.

He added: “It is the exciting part of having an Academy like the one here at Crewe because we produce talented young players, who can often come into the team and really surprise you and the opposition.”