The International break has allowed Crewe Alexandra to have an extended period of rest since our last fixture in the Checkatrade Trophy against Tranmere Rovers.

Due to our opponents Mansfield Town having three players away on International duty for their respective countries, our home fixture last weekend was postponed.

This has allowed Artell to work with his squad of players and gave him the opportunity to take them to train with Liverpool’s Under-23s this time last week.

Artell says that the mini-break should be a positive, but that you will only know after the 90 plus minutes at Cheltenham this weekend.

“It shouldn’t be a bad thing to have a little breather after seven or eight games, ‘admits Dave. “It should be a positive but I guess you won’t really know until the game tomorrow.

“There are benefits to it because it gives you more time to work with the players but on the other hand we had a home game and if we had won it, it would be three wins on the spin for us. We are two games on the spin and now have an away game.

“If we can play like we have been playing at home or as we did in the last 25 minutes at Tranmere then we will be alright.”