Kenny Lunt says that the management staff have never used injuries as an excuse this season, but he does believe that we would have enjoyed a far better season if we had not been missing some key players for large chunks of the campaign.
Crewe have had to content being without James Jones, Ryan Wintle and George Ray for a large part of the season and Lunt says that it is no coincidence that performances have improved as competition for players has improved.
Lunt told the club’s official website: “Of course, it helps when you have a virtually fit squad. We haven’t used injuries as an excuse but we have missed some big players like George Ray and James Jones for a large part of the season. They are not the only ones and if we had everyone fit at the start of the season then who knows what we much have achieved.
“They are good players, big characters and are a big part of this football club. We have lost a lot of games late on and it makes a difference when you can put substitutes on with experience, who can help you see the game out. We were having to put inexperienced youngsters on in that situation and that has now changed.
The assistant manager added: “If you had said early on in the season that we would have Chris Dagnall, Porter and Raynes on the bench now, you would have laughed. They were there for us in the early part of the season but the ones who are in now have earned the shirt. They deserve to be there.”