Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell has told his squad players ‘to be ready’ because they will be needed at some point this season. The Alex boss has reiterated that football can change very quickly and he has pointed to the examples of Tom Lowery and Chris Porter last season when they both had to wait for their chances to become first team regulars.

Ahead of the mid-week trip to Leyton Orient, the boss told crewealex.net: “We had a chat with the players last week about them being ready because we will need them all at some point. I don’t know when and why that might happen but we will. It always happen and they have to come in and be bang at it.

“An injury or a suspension can change everything. They just have to look at Tom Lowery who missed a lot of games in the first half of last season. Chris Porter the same.

“If they are called upon then they bet be ready. There will always be opportunities for someone here and we have a lot of players out of the team who are chomping at the bit to try and get in.

“Owen Dale has done well in the games he has played and when coming on as a sub. Callum Ainley has done fine and then that  is before you count Nicky Hunt, who hasn’t really put a foot wrong or Rio (Adebisi) who has been unlucky not to have been involved in the 18.

“Travis Johnson is having his best spell as a professional footballer so we are really pleased with him at the moment. He has to keep going like he is, and then there are the likes of Jonah, Oli Finney and Josh Lundstram as well waiting for their chance as well.”