David Artell has revealed to the club’s official website that his young midfielder, Tom Lowery, was not considered as an impact substitute against Exeter City because he suffered a slight knock in the warm-up.

Lowery may have found himself on the pitch against the Grecians on Saturday as Crewe failed to unlock a stubborn defence after going 2-1 behind. Lowery had certainly impressed against Oldham when coming on as a substitute in his last outing. He got the team playing through the midfield lines better and created George Ray’s late equaliser at Boundary Park.

His influence was so great that the legendary midfielder, Paul Scholes, told David Artell afterwards that ‘he felt Lowery changed the game’.

David said: “Tom did well against Oldham and may well have come on again on Saturday but I must admit that he got a bit of knock in the warm up and we didn’t risk him.

“He had a bit of breather from training earlier in the week but I’m sure he will get back into it and make himself available for the weekend. We will see how he is and take it from there.”