David Artell admits that it isn’t Charlie Kirk’s game to go into 50/50 challenges and risk getting himself injured. The Alex boss wants his influential winger to do his damage to the opposition in the final third of the pitch and the Academy graduate has certainly done that with seven goals and numerous quality assists this season.
Kirk may have been on the receiving end of some unjust barracking from a minority of the Crewe support on Saturday, but he still produced the cross of the game to create Chris Porter’s goal.
The youngster has come on leaps and bounds this season and has become one of the most effective wide players in the EFL with his contribution.
Artell stresses that Kirk brings a different set of skills to the team than say a Paul Green, who is expected to put the miles in, intercept the ball and put tackles in for the team.
David told crewealex: "Of course I'd love Charlie to challenge a bit more, try and tackle a bit more, but the one tackle he goes in for and the other lad breaks his leg, I'll be absolutely fuming, and so will the fans.
"And I'll go 'why did you go in for that tackle?' and he'll say 'because the fans are making me' and that's a terrible excuse. Stay out of them. You have to be careful what you wish for sometimes.
"He can't tackle because he hasn't got that skill, so why would I want him to do it?
"Me saying to Charlie Kirk 'go on, tackle that full back' - all I'm going to do there is introduce him to Mark Cornish, the physio. You have to be careful.”
"It would help him and us if he could develop those skills. Are we particularly working on it? No, I'll be honest, we're not.
"I don't particularly want Charlie Kirk to tackle for fear of him getting injured.”