Tomorrow’s FA Cup tie at Cheltenham is ‘important for the football club’ going forward says David Artell. The Alex boss says that with fans beginning to come back to stadiums, progression in the FA Cup could eventually see us meet a bigger club with a possible bumper crowd.

Artell knows that his Crewe side face a difficult away task away at Whaddon Road with Michael Duff’s side one of the most consistent in League Two again this season.

Crewe will be aiming to get themselves into Monday night’s draw for the third round.

The Alex boss told the club’s official website: “It is an important game with a chance to get to round three. There is significant prize money on offer and that means more to lower league clubs than ever.

“It would mean an extra game and we would have to move the game in January but would we swap that for the prize money and a chance to get to round three? I am sure we would.

“We don’t know what might happen with fans. It could be that more fans are let back in in February or March and instead of 2,000, 4,000 it could be 50,000, so you have to give yourself the opportunity.

He added: “The FA is magic. For me it is the best Cup competition in the world, so we want to go to Cheltenham and make sure we get through.”