Crewe Alexandra’s assistant manager, Kenny Lunt, says that Kevin O’Connor is a left-back we have monitored for a while and that he has come here to play in our starting XI.

Crewe signed the former Republic of Ireland Under-21 International on loan until January yesterday and Lunt says that his experience of playing in the Championship will make him the ideal replacement for the currently injured Harry Pickering (hamstring).

On the club’s new loan capture, Lunt told the club’s official website: “We have needed a left-back and we have waited for the right player, with the right character to come along. Kevin is the one we wanted and we are delighted to get him.

“He is a good player. He is a player we have kept an eye on for a while and he has played in the Championship and in League One for Fleetwood.

“We have done our homework on him and I’m sure he is looking forward to it. When Pixie comes back from his injury, we will have two good players battling it out for the left-back spot and that would give us the opportunity to play Harry further forward as well.

“Kevin has settled in really well this week and without giving the team away, he has come here to play games. “