Alex will have to get the better of ex-defender Michael Nottingham this evening if we are to get anything from Accrington trip.

If Crewe Alexandra are to achieve a positive result at the Wham Stadium this evening, then it appears likely that we will have to get the better of our former loanee defender Michael Nottingham. The former Blackpool centre-half moved to Stanley before the end of the summer window for £30,000 and Artell says that the fee only to goes how highly the 31-year is regarded.

The Birmingham-born defender certainly played his part in helping Crewe win promotion when joining us on loan for the second part of the season. His blossoming partnership with young Luke Offord was fundamental in us becoming more solid at the back and we finished top of the league before the season was curtailed due to Covid-19.

Nottingham made 12 appearances for the Alex, scoring a vital equaliser away at Exeter as well just before the first national lockdown.

David Artell was interested in signing the defender this summer but he was recalled by the new Blackpool boss, Neil Critchley, before being sold on to Accrington in October.

Ahead of our reunion with the likeable defender, Artell told us: “Michael returned to Blackpool from his loan from us and is now at Accrington. That is football and if he was told that he wasn’t going to play under Critch (Neil Critchley) then it is not a surprise he moved on.

“They paid £30,000 for him, so that just goes to show how much Accrington wanted him. Good luck to him, he is a great fella and he did a terrific job for us.

“From our point of view, he was with us for a few months, so we know his weaknesses as well as his strengths.

The boss added: “We will look to expose them and not have him using his strengths, especially at set-pieces. It will be great to catch up with him, as he was a good member of our dressing room.”