David Artell says that everyone at Crewe Alexandra ‘has time for Neil Critchley’ following his many years as a player and Academy coach with the Football Club.

Critchley later moved on to take on key roles inside Liverpool’s Academy before becoming number one at Blackpool last summer. The 42-year-old has helped transform the Seasiders into genuine play-off hopefuls and they enjoyed a superb 3-0 away win at Charlton Athletic at the weekend.

Ahead of tonight’s game at Bloomfield Road, Artell told the club’s official website: “Everyone has time for Critch. He is a great guy and he was brought up at this football club if you like.

“I was always see him at games. He is out there watching players and the opposition, so I know he is doing his homework as well as we are.

“It will be good to see him. We cannot go into the office afterwards but I am sure we will sit in the stand or on the touchline for a few minutes to catch up. They are going well and we have had two positive results against sides that are up there so it should be another good game of football.”