David Artell says it has been disappointing to pick up a few injuries during the pre-season but he says it is part and parcel of football. The Crewe boss certainly does not regret pushing his players to their limit this summer and he is hoping they will have a platform of fitness to take them through the next nine months of a gruelling campaign.

Artell told the club’s official web-site: “It is disappointing to pick up some injuries but it happens and you just have to get on with it.

“You do go into pre-season mindful of picking up injuries but you have also got to push players. Some can do that on their own and some need a hefty shove, but you have to push them to the limit, so they know how far their body and mind can go. It is important.

“You have to push them without trying to break them. We lost a few early on and some have struggled with niggles but the physio department have done a great job in getting them back and prepared.

He added: “We are okay on the injury front. We have a couple of niggles and George (Ray) is not far off. We are in half decent shape and we are all looking forward to it.”