Academy graduate Charlie Kirk started the pre-season campaign in impressive fashion with a well-taken hat-trick against Kidsgrove Athletic last night. Kirk was in the right place at the right time to finish off chances created by Harry Pickering and new signing Chris Porter.

Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell was pleased with Kirk’s finishing of the chances and his willingness to get into the opposition penalty area.

Artell told the club’s official web-site: “We know that Charlie can score goals but he has to keep getting in the right areas. He has to get into the opposition box more and he did that.

“I said the same thing to Daggers back in January and he knew. He just needed a reminder. It is a bit different with Charlie because he is still young and impressionable.

“He looks to taken that advice on board and got three goals from inside the penalty area. It isn’t all about scoring worldie’s outside of the box every once in a while. I would much prefer him to score one or two taps more often. He has got to add that to his locker and this was a promising start for him.

“Charlie has the potential to be a top player and now he has got to think how to repeat it?”