Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell says he learned a valuable lesson last season about giving his players enough time to rest and recuperate during busy periods of fixtures.

The Alex boss continues to monitor his more senior players and gives them the option to sit out training sessions if they feel as though it will be more beneficial to them, but he is also giving his other, younger players time off to recover from games.

Artell explained: “The thing I underestimated the most last season was the amount of rest the players need. I just do not mean the senior players either but all of them.

“They train to a great intensity and when you add up the number of days and weeks that they are doing that then they can become tired and fatigued. It is only natural.

“When there isn’t that zip in training that is normally there then that is usually a good indicator.

“So we have evaluated the amount of rest they get and are more likely to give them a recovery day or the day off now. It is difficult because one individual who is playing every week will differ from someone who isn’t, so it is hard to balance the individuals to benefit the group as a whole.

“We are managing it and I think we are managing it much better and the amount of injuries we have had has been reduced.”