Crewe manager pleased with progress made so far as we gear up for restart at the end of the month.

Alex Morris says that with every pre-season it takes a bit of time for the players to return to their rhythm on the ball after a two-month lay-off.

The Crewe Alexandra manager saw his side record a comfortable 3-0 win over Nantwich Town in our first pre-season encounter over the weekend and he believes that these early fixtures are all mostly about regaining that match fitness and getting used to competitive football again.

Morris told the club’s official website: “There were some good moves and we saw a number of the patterns we have been working on in training and that was pleasing. What we didn’t see at times, not all the time, certainly, was the continued and consistent quality on the ball.

“I am not surprised at all because that rustiness in possession is going to be there in these first few pre-season games. The players are trying to co-ordinate themselves again and get used to having that ball at their feet again with someone looking to take it off them. It’s a given really at this stage of the pre-season that they are getting back into it.

The boss added: “With the games building up to the likes of playing Barnsley, West Brom and Rotherham United there will be that step up and that need to be more consistent, accurate and sharper in possession, but they are working well and everything is geared up for that first game on 30th July.”