Assistant Manager believes Alex fans will instantly take to our new number 9.

Lee Bell believes that Crewe Alexandra fans will instantly take to new signing Courtney Baker-Richardson because of his infectious work ethic for the team.

The club were delighted to beat off stiff competition for the former Newport County forward, 26, and Bell says that although he can play right across the forward line, Baker-Richardson fits the club profile as our new number 9 following the departures of Chris Porter and Mikael Mandron this summer.

Bell told us: “Courtney fits the profile we were looking for when it came to that number 9 role. Although he can play off the sides as well, he is best known as a centre-forward.

“He has a good work ethic and is a real team player. That is what attracts us to him and I am sure the fans will appreciate him. He works hard for the team, has some tricks and is a real action player. We are excited to have him and we are all looking forward to working with him.

“We had a really good meeting with him and spoke about his role at Newport and what we expected of him here and developing relationship with the other forward players. It was a really good chat and he is a good lad, who just wants to improve and enjoy his football.

He added: “His age never really came into. We just want to sign good players, who will come here and make a difference to us and Courtney is one of those. If he is entering his peak years as a player then that is even more good news for us.”