Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell believes that his young winger, Owen Dale, showed against Aston Villa on Tuesday night that he is ready to play more of an important role at first-team level. The pacey wide man was introduced gradually by Artell last season and was loaned out to Altrincham to enhance his playing experience in someone else’s first-team.

The Academy graduate has had to wait patiently for his opportunity to start a game but after impressing against Middlesbrough in the first round of the Carabao Cup, he excelled against the Premier League side on Tuesday and should have scored a notable goal to reflect his all-round performance.

David told the club’s official website: “Owen was a bit of an unknown quantity last season and that applies to us as well. We introduced him gradually as an impact substitute and he benefitted from going out on loan but every time he has come on or when he has started in the cup games, he has looked a player.

“He is showing that consistency and that is a real positive. He is still a young player and it is all about being consistent. It is like that with all players.

“The Aston Villa players do it every week and that is what it takes to play at the top level.

“Owen has certainly shown that he can handle the step up into the first team and can handle League Two. Now he has to become more effective and that means putting some of those chances away.”