David Artell has told the club’s official website that playing the versatile Ryan Wintle at centre-half is ‘not a long-term solution’.

The Alex boss will step up his search for another defender over the course of the January transfer window.

With Eddie Nolan ruled out with a back injury, midfielder Wintle has deputised superbly in the centre of the Crewe defence with the only real set-back in our League form coming at Salford City on Boxing Day.

Artell says that he wants to move Wintle back into his preferred position as soon as he can to make sure he has more touches of the football.

The Alex boss said: “We have asked Ryan to do a job for the team and he has gone in there and been terrific. First and foremost we asked him to do it because he can do it. He has that ability.

“We know he has a preferred position and we have that preferred position for him as well. You want your better players on the ball as much as you can and Ryan is one of those.

“We know he can do a great job for us at centre-half but he is more effective as a midfielder and we know this current situation is not the long-tem solution.”