David Artell says that young striker Lewis Reilly is progressing nicely and continues to push for more opportunities at first-team level.

Reilly was the match winner for the club’s Under-23 side in our 2-1 win over Leeds United yesterday. His brilliant free-kick won us the game late on after his first half header had put us in the lead at the interval.

The 18-year-old forward burst onto the first-team scene with a brace on his full debut against Port Vale in the Checkatrade Trophy back in November and he has made 7 appearances in total but six have been as a second half substitute.

The Crewe boss told the club’s official website: “Lewis is the best finisher in the club. I know some of the fans will say ‘so why is not in the team’? I understand that but there are other areas of his game where he wouldn’t be the best in the team.

“We hope that as he develops he will be. He has scored four goals in his last 3 games. Yes, he scored against Runcorn in the Cheshire Cup and in a 5-1 defeat to Hull City, but anyone who saw his two goals yesterday would have seen his ability. He scored two great goals.

He added: “One was a great header and the other was a terrific free-kick over the wall. He has the ability to score goals and he has done well. He is progressing in the right direction and he has to keep on working hard.”