Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell believes that those players who have come in twice a week over the summer will see the fitness benefits as they gear up for the new season.

Artell, who himself came in during the summer as a player under his own previous Crewe managers, says that the summer sessions provides a good platform to cope with a tough pre-season programme.

Artell told crewealex.net: “I think that coming in twice a week over the summer to help them ticking over when it comes to their fitness and conditioning makes a huge difference. I did it as a player and saw the benefits to my fitness going into pre-season.

“I was talking to Nicky Hunt the other day and he says he can see the difference. He signed late on last summer and came in later than he has this year. Last summer, he would be the first to admit that he struggled because he was behind with the work.

“This summer, he has been in twice a week and put the sessions in and he is flying. It has made a big difference to someone like him.

The boss added: “If gives a good base of fitness for the start of pre-season and the intensity that comes with that. Nicky said that now he has done it, he cannot believe more clubs don’t implement it.”