David Artell believes that his improving Crewe Alexandra squad are in better shape now than they were this time last year. The honest Crewe boss still says that we are very much ‘a work in progress’ but he feels as though our second half of last season proved we had turned a decisive corner.

Crewe finished the season with six wins from the last nine matches, to put us join first in the final form table.

Artell is reluctant to get carried away, but stresses that we are now turning the corner in the right direction.

He told the club’s official website: “There is always room for improvement and we are still evolving. It is still a work in progress but I would say that we have turned a corner in the second half of last season.

“After 15 months in management and three transfer windows, I think we are beginning to see the fruits of our labour.

“We are certainly not getting carried away. We won 17 games and that is nothing to write home about, but we have shown what we are capable of over the last few months of the season.

He added: “The players deserve all the credit to see the progress they have made. They have set the standard now and their challenge will be to stay above that line now. “