The availability of Chris Long and Scott Kashket will be a welcome boost for Crewe Alexandra’s forward options as we prepare for a home double header against Charlton Athletic and Shrewsbury Town.

Long has had to spend a period of self-isolation after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19.

Kashket had a bout of illness, not Covid related and had a slight foot injury, but has successfully returned to training.

David Artell says that the return of the two forwards will be a welcome boost and increase competition for places at the top end of the pitch.

Artell told the club’s official website: “Chris has been back training with us now for a while after a period of self-isolation. Scott is not too far either. He was ill but that wasn’t a Covid related issue. He had a bug and we have had more issues with that than Covid.

“Scott is making progress.

“When he has been available for us, Chris has been good for us, very good at times. He has had a stop-start time since he came here with injury, illness and having to self-isolate a few times.

“We know what an asset he is to us, if he is fit and available and we need to get him back to where he was before his latest absence when he scored three goals in three games.”