Steve says having a pool of young players to call upon is useful advantage.

Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis has told the club’s official web-site that with the new ruling over loan deals, he is grateful he can turn to the resources of the club’s Academy. The Alex boss has to decide upon a replacement for the injured winger Alex Kiwomya ahead of this weekend’s visit of Blackpool and Academy graduates Charlie Kirk and Callum Ainley are vying for the vacant spot.

The former Alsager Town youngster Ryan Wintle is also a possibility after recently impressing for the Development Squad.

Steve told crewealex.net: “We have a squad made up of a large number of development players. Some of them have some experience and some of them haven’t. It is a big percentage of our squad but when we do have an injury then I am grateful that we have good young players at this club that I can turn to.

“You are never quite sure how a young player will react or perform on the pitch but with the new loan ruling, it helps us to have these young players waiting for a chance.

“I read the other day that Mansfield have 15 fit players at the moment and I know Exeter had a few out when we played them and those two clubs cannot fall back on a Development Squad for players. They have to go with what they have because we cannot really do anything until January. We are now restricted.

“It is nice to have some good young players that can come into our team if needs be.”