Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell says it will be a welcome boost to have midfielder Ryan Wintle back in training. Wintle, 20, is set to resume training this week after overcoming his fractured tibia injury ahead of schedule.

The midfielder, who signed a new contract with the club last week, suffered the injury against Carlisle United back September and Artell says we have missed his defensive attributes in the centre of the pitch.

Artell told crewealex.net: “Ryan is probably the player we have missed most when he has been out this season. I say that because he gives us something different. We don’t have another midfielder like him at the club.

“He is steady in there and he offers us something different defensively. He does a lot of good work in front of the back four and I know the other players appreciate the things he does for the team.

He added: “He has worked his socks off to get back as soon as possible and he will only get better with the more games he plays. He probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves but he always does the basics extremely well and he is a team player.”