Tom Lowery returned to starting line-up for the Alex on Tuesday evening and helped Crewe to a hard fought 3-2 win over Bristol Rovers. Lowery was back to his creative best, assisting for Charlie Kirk’s opening goal and then providing the inch perfect free-kick from which Ollie Lancashire headed home the decisive winner just minutes after the Pirates had wiped away Crewe’s 2-0 half-time advantage.

Lowery, who has had to endure a period of isolation after first becoming in contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19 and then testing positive himself soon after, returned to produce a fine cameo performance against Plymouth Argyle before being handed his recall on Tuesday evening.

David Artell told the club’s official website: “It has been a frustrating period for Tommy and that is no fault of his own. It is just one of those things but out of month, he was with us for about a week.

“Because of self-isolation he had not been able to train and we had to ease him back in. He did very well against Plymouth when he came on and was terrific for us on Tuesday. His quality of passes and delivery helped us win the game there is no doubt about that.

“Tommy is used to the physical side of the game. He is small but he is not fazed by coming up against bigger opponents. He has done that all his career.

He added: “He is a skilful player, has a great temperament and character. He is a terrific footballer and he showed his quality once again on Tuesday night to help us win the game.”