Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell believes that Callum Ainley is beginning to show that consistent form that makes him a real game changer.

Ainley has played a major assist in four of our last six matches and he returned to the Crewe starting XI for Saturday’s 2-1 win at Doncaster.

It was Ainley’s expertly timed pass through to Charlie Kirk that created the opening goal at the Keepmoat and he continued to be a threat in the final third until he tired and was replaced in the final 10 minutes.

Artell told the club’s official website: “Callum had some early successes in his career, probably a bit more than the others and then had a bit of a wobble.

“He didn’t play as much as he would have wanted to last season but whenever he has played this season, he has looked good. We have simplified his game, which has helped him and he has responded to that.

“He was left out at Sunderland for reasons that didn’t have anything to do with him. It was tactical. In hindsight it was probably the wrong decision to leave him out, but I don’t think he would have changed the result on the night because Sunderland were very good.

“Callum is a good player and he just needed a bit of time. Now the aim is to get 50 plus games out of him, like he has been playing.”