Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell says that the players enjoy coming in twice a week over the closed season to help with their social wellbeing, as well have the opportunity to top up their fitness in readiness for pre-season.

Artell says that the players are expected to attend a minimum number of sessions over the summer depending on how many games they played last season or if they are recovering from injury. The likes of Josh Lundstram, Luke Offord and Oli Finney have attended sessions this week as they return to full fitness.

Artell explained to crewealex.net: “Some of the players have been back in training. They have been in Tuesday and Thursday just to keep ticking over. It is nothing arduous and much of it is left up to the individual. If he wants to do a weight session then do it, if you don’t want to it then fine.

“It is not for our benefit. It is for their benefit and they understand that.

“They have to do a minimum number of sessions depending on a few things before they come back in full-time.

“I think it actually helps them mentally because they are with their mates. There are so many box sets of Friends they can watch or dances on Tik Tok dances they can do, or whatever they do nowadays, so I think they like to come in and go for a run around the pitch or do some weights with their mates.

He added: “Chris Porter is a family man and he was in running around the pitch. He is 37 and has babies and he was still out there with his teammates doing things properly.”