David Artell has suggested that he may make some changes for this evening’s Checkatrade Trophy meeting with Manchester City’s Development Squad, but the Crewe boss says he will ‘pick a team to win the game and get through to the knockout stages’.

Crewe would progress from Group D with a victory, having won their opening game away at Tranmere Rovers. Crewe gallantly fought back from 3-1 down to win 4-3 late on at Prenton Park and Artell is hoping to complete the job with a game to spare against Shrewsbury Town.

Talking ahead of tonight’s fixture, Artell told crewealex.net: “I will look at and see who needs a game or who may need taking out. It is about getting that balance right.

“I will look to pick a team to win the game. We want to get through to the knockout stages of the competition because we haven’t done that for a while now and there is the financial side of it as well.

“I have to be fair to the boys as well. Last season, I gave Billy Sass-Davies his debut and to be fair to Billy it was a little bit too soon for him. It was a lesson learnt that night and I have to select the players for the right reasons. You have to be careful.

The boss added: “If we make too many changes and we struggle then that can have an impact for the game at Notts County on Saturday. If we can play well, get the win and take that momentum into Saturday then that’s even better.”