David Artell admits that every game gives him ‘food for thought’ when it comes to his next selection. The Alex boss has altered his personnel in the last two games against Port Vale and Manchester City Under-21s in the Checkatrade Trophy as he seeks a formula to become more threatening in attack and more consistent over 90 minutes.

The Alex travel to Notts County this weekend and face a team that have not won a game this season - but have a relatively new manager in the Australian Harry Kewell.

Artell told the club’s official website: “Every game we play gives you food for thought and the Port Vale game and then one against Manchester City Under-21s on Tuesday will come into my thinking.

“Whether we win, lose, or draw, it is the same process with us. We analyse it, discuss it and then we get down to selecting a team that we think will give us the best chance of winning a football match.

“We know we can improve. Not scoring enough goals is a big part of it but it is a team issue not just the forward players. Last week against Port Vale, from an attacking sense, we whacked it up to the front two in the second half. It wasn’t their fault.

“Now I know a striker is judged on the number of goals they score and create, but I couldn’t blame them for last week. Yes, they can do more, they all can but the service into them has to give them a chance.”