Kenny Lunt says that the emergence of players such as Ollie Finney, Owen Dale, Billy Sass-Davies and Will Jaaskelainen in the second half of the season strengthened the Crewe Alexandra squad when we needed it most.

The club’s assistant manager told the club’s official website: “The players that came through in the second half of the season helped us. In the first half of the season, we were relying on 13, 14 players really and hoping they were going to be fit but in the second half of the season we had a really good bench.

“It was difficult to pick an 18 and the competition was really good. That is what we need. When it is like that you can see who is training well, who is ready and who is in the best shape fitness wise.

“We could select players on merit and what suited us for home game and away games.

“Those young players have to perform well again and push that pressure on the others. “