David Artell has praised his bunch of senior professionals and says we are fortunate to have such a good group of players inside the dressing room.

Artell has highlighted the professionalism and mentoring of the senior players when it comes to the development of the younger players in his squad.

The Crewe boss says that we purposefully recruited ‘good characters’ to enhance our home grown talent.

He told the club’s official website: “The non-Academy players compliment the Academy ones and they have been terrific. They all have. The ones who play and the ones who do not play.

“Take Alex Nicholls, he hasn’t played as much as he would have liked and he probably deserves more opportunities than he has had since Christmas but he has never moaned and groaned. He gets on it.

“Same with Michael Raynes, who is now back with us. They are all terrific professionals and lead by example with their work ethic.

“They help the younger ones. You can see what Ports and Shaun do with Lewis Reilly or how Ryan Wintle has come on because he has played with Paul Green.

“I cannot praise our senior players enough, they have been absolutely terrific and long may it continue.”