David Artell has told the club’s official website that individual development will continue to be a fundamental part of our philosophy. The Alex boss was delighted with the individual skill shown by Academy graduates, Charlie Kirk and Callum Ainley in the build-up to two of our goals against Wigan Athletic last weekend.

Kirk pulled down a superb cross field pass from Ryan Wintle before enjoying a spell of keep-ups whilst wanting for Harry Pickering to break forward and lashing past Jamie Jones for 2-0.

Ainley then produced an amazing flick to create the third that eventually fell to Mikael Mandron for a tap in.

Artell told the club’s official website: “We will continue to work on individual skill and technique in training. It forms a big part of our training sessions, a big part of it is devoted to it and the younger players have had that for a long time now.

“As a manager you hope that those moments come out in a game. It is satisfying as the manager or one of the coaches who worked with these players when they are coming through the Academy.

He added: “Training is all about trying to replicate it on a matchday and it was pleasing to see glimpses of that against Wigan.”