David Artell has informed the club’s official website that he has already selected his starting XI for the visit of Mansfield Town tomorrow and that those in possession of the shirts have to play well to retain them.

The Crewe Alexandra boss has reiterated to his players that he will continue to select his players on merit and age will not be issue.

Ahead of the season opener against the Stags, Artell told crewealex.net: “I have picked the team and those who are starting tomorrow have been selected on merit. I am a firm believer in that. If you are doing the business then you are in, if you are not then you will come back out.

“I don’t care if they are 19 or 39, if they are an Academy graduate or not of if they have played 500 games or five. My view won’t change. It is done on merit and who deserves to play. That is how I will always look to work and the players will know where they stand.”