David Artell says that a mid-week friendly with Burton Albion has shown him that his players are ready if they are needed to step up into the first-team. Burton Albion kindly invited us for a match at St. George’s Park on Wednesday and Artell says it was a really good exercise for his players to be involved in.

Artell told the club’s official website: “Burton and St. George’s Park were very accommodating and it was a really good exercise for the players. It was played out in great surroundings and it was two good football teams. It was a good game.

“It was a good exercise even before a ball was kicked and the game was approached in the right way. The players did themselves justice by and large.

“The players who are not in the team have to understand the important role they have to play. They have to realise that they have to keep pushing the ones that are in the team. If they stop pushing then it affects the team.

“They have to be ready and from I saw on Wednesday they would be. I’ve said that all along that we will need them at some point. That may be starting on Saturday, coming off the bench or playing at Tranmere next Friday. Things in football can change very quickly.”