Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell has encouraged Ryan Wintle to get forward more and get back to threatening the opposition penalty area. The Alex boss wants the versatile midfielder to break forward more when the opportunity arises.

Wintle, 21, has now surpassed 50 league games for the club but he has scored just four goals, including his one this season against Fleetwood Town in the EFL Cup back in August.

David told crewealex.net: “Ryan has made great progress from where he has come from (Alsager) and now he has to get back to threatening the goal again because that is one of his strengths.

“Just because he may be the deeper one in midfield in our defensive shape, doesn’t mean he cannot get forward and get shots off. He can do that.

“When he goes forward, another of the midfielders can drop in and we want him to get back to that. We don’t have to go gung-ho and leave ourselves exposed but we have had a chat with Ryan and he knows that he licence to get forward when the timing is right.

“He is good defensively for us and reads danger well. There have been a couple of occasions he could have done better for us in that but that has been pointed out.

“I don’t want him to be what I call an Under-23 quarter-back, spraying passes to full-backs all game. There are too many of them in Youth football. I want Ryan to develop into a really effective midfield player for us.

“He has something to build on and scoring goals will be a part of that for him.”