Boss pleased that he now has game changing options.

Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell firmly believes that the four new faces he managed to bring in ahead of the window coupled with his earlier signings this summer will now offer the competition and cover needed to improve our results.

The Alex currently have one point from our opening five league games and travel to Shrewsbury Town this weekend looking for that first win.

Artell and his staff recruited four players before the closure of the window at the end of last month to bolster his options in midfield and in attack. Scott Kashket and J’Neil Bennett have come in to provide that competition in the final third and Scott Robertson and Madger Gomes have added to the midfield competition.

Artell told the club’s official website: “It was important to add to the squad because we felt we were short. We didn’t want to just bring them for the sake of it or because of ‘what ifs’, we went after good players who we felt would improve us.

“The competition is healthy again and it gives us options.

“When you can only name six subs at Oxford because of one thing or another then the team literally picks itself and you have to go with some untried youngsters on the bench.

“It is now nice to discuss the merits of who should be in the starting XI and who has earned the right to be in the squad. We can discuss the merit of one player up against another and how they may fare up against their opposite number.

Artell added: “I will pick a team against Shrewsbury or whoever we come up against that I think gives us the best chance of winning the game. I am excited by the group of players and I am looking forward to Saturday.”