David Artell firmly believes that Crewe Alexandra continue to provide the best pathway through to the first-team in whole of the country. The Alex boss says that the development of our own talented young players remains the lifeblood of the club and on Saturday he handed winger Owen Dale his full home debut ahead of Daniel Powell.

Midfielder Josh Lundstram was again named on the bench and he is likely to be the next one given an opportunity to show what they can do at first-team level.

Artell says that the example set by other Academy graduates in and around the first-team squad has to be a driving factor for the ones that are currently out of the first team squad or are progressing through the Academy ranks.

The Alex boss said: “The success of our Academy players and the ones like Owen (Dale) and Rio Adebisi, who have made their debuts recently shows the rest of them that it can be done.

“They have to keep on working hard and training well because they know they will get their opportunities here. We have the best pathway in the country to first team football and those in the Academy can see that it is possible to make the first team.

“When they see their peers like Owen and Rio go on and play for the first team then it can only drive them to emulate them. They can see that they will get their chances here.”