David Artell says that the club’s Academy continues to be the lifeblood of the Football Club and that Crewe Alexandra will continue to give their younger players a chance.

This summer has seen long standing goalkeeper Ben Garratt move on and faith placed in up-and-coming stopper Will Jaaskelainen.

The past season has also seen first team chances presented to Owen Dale, Billy Sass-Davies, Oli Finney and Lewis Reilly. Fellow Academy graduates, Travis Johnson, Josh Lundstram and Luke Offord have also appeared on the first team bench.

The Crewe boss told the club’s official website: “The Academy model continues to be the lifeblood of the club and what we want to achieve.

He added: “We continue to produce our own players and give them opportunities. It also allows us to be prudent and not live above our means. We are always evolving and striving to do things better.

"That is our strength as a club because you have to work hard to produce professional footballers and we do it better than most because of the staff we have and the application of the boys.”