Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell says he will look to keep his players on their toes this pre-season with one or two more team bonding activities.

The Alex boss has also revealed that the club will play a behind-closed doors game against Premier League opposition as they begin their pre-season plans.

David told crewealex.net: “There will be one or two things to keep the players on their toes again. The pre-season is not all about working hard and getting over your tactical beliefs and the way you want to play but it about togetherness as well.

“The bonding is important as well and making sure you integrate the new players into the environment.

“I’ve got some things in the pile-line to help with that and a couple of surprises. We will play a behind closed door game against Premier League opposition and that is always good because there are spells in those games where we have possession for a long time and then they have it, so you are working in and out of possession.

“There isn’t that rough and tumble and they just help with getting on the ball, running and get back to twisting and turning again.

“The aim is to make sure we remain injury free for when we face Plymouth on the first Saturday of August. “