David Artell has told the club’s official website that if the right player came along in the January transfer window, it wouldn’t matter what position they play in.

The Alex boss has gone to record to highlight the fact that a right-back and a centre-half top his priority list – but he isn’t ruling out other positions if someone could improve his Crewe Alexandra team in the second half of the season.

Artell told us: “If a good player comes available in a different position then of course we would try to do something. We won’t narrow our search just to two positions because if the right one comes along then we would try. We would be foolish not to.

“We cannot go out and spend fortunes on transfer fees and wages, so we have to be a bit cuter and smarter in our recruitment. We have to work harder, have those contacts and you also need a bit of luck with it.”