David Artell has praised his ‘warrior’ defender Eddie Nolan after he breezed through a late fitness test on Saturday to face Stevenage. Nolan had suffered a slight ankle injury in the Boxing Day victory over Lincoln City but the Irishman and head physio Mark Cornish worked tirelessly to get him ready for the visit of Stevenage just a few days later.

Nolan completed 90 minutes and helped us secure another clean-sheet in a deserved 1-0 win.

Artell told crewealex.net: “I have no qualms about Eddie. He is a warrior. If he is injured then he is genuinely injured. He is a tough competitor and one of the strongest mentally.

“Perry is the same and if they are injured then they are. They don’t miss games when they have knocks. Eddie played with a four inch tear in his calf for four games last season and that just goes to show how much he wants to be out there.

“I wasn’t surprised he was fit. He is one you don’t have to worry too much about.”