Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell believes that the club’s young centre-half, Luke Offord, has been ‘phenomenal’ since breaking into the first-team and he thoroughly deserves his new three-year contract.

Offord, who turns 21 shortly, penned a new deal on Friday and Artell says that the Northwich-based defender is a real promising prospect.

Offord, only made his senior debut against Leyton Orient in January 2020 but he has gone on to really establish himself in Artell starting XI.  He also spent time on loan at local clubs, Witton and Nantwich Town as part of his development.

The Alex boss told crewealex.net: “Luke has been absolutely outstanding and he does things that a 30-year-old centre-half does at the age of 20. He is some prospect I must say.

“His temperament is second to none and it doesn’t faze him. It didn’t faze him that he was up against Jonson Clarke-Harris on Saturday, a player who was full of confidence, is physically imposing and had scored six goals for his new club, but I honestly cannot remember him having too many kicks of the football.

“That isn’t all down to Luke but he was excellent again. I don’t think it would faze him if he was up against Zlatan Ibrahimovic, I really don’t.

The boss added: “He is a terrific lad and in the 20 or so games he has played so far, he has been phenomenal.”