Christopher Long has endured a stop/start beginning to his Crewe Alexandra career after signing from Motherwell in the summer but the forward has benefited from the International break to enhance his sharpness after illness and injury.

Long suffered a slight knee injury against Portsmouth but he has recovered to resume full time training during our mini-break.

The 26-year-old has been limited to just two appearances this season. His only start came against Hartlepool in the League Cup and he was the unfortunate one to be sacrificed inside the first 13 minutes after Billy Sass-Davies was sent off for a professional foul.

David Artell says that the former Everton trainee is now ready to stake his claim again.

“The time we have had out on the training ground has allowed us to out some work into the players. That is just not the four new lads who have come ahead of the deadline but the likes of Ben Knight, Terell (Thomas) and Chris Long as well. They need a bit if time to get used to what we are about, ' said David.

“I feel sorry for Longy, he has had a really stop, start time since he came here with Covid, the Novovirus and a slight injury. He hasn’t been able to get a run of games because he would be training for a few days and then not.

“He hasn’t been able to get up and running as yet and we haven’t seen the best of him, which is no fault of his own.

He added: “This break would have done him some good and I’m sure we will get him going again because he is a good player.”