Since the turn of the year, Connor O’Riordan has enjoyed a spell in the first team with a long-term injury to Billy Sass-Davies and the departures of Donervon Daniels and Terell Thomas, the Sandbach youngster has looked back since being handed his debut.

The young defender, who recently turned 18, expressed how grateful he is to Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell, who has given him the pathway into professional football.

He said: “I am glad the manager has faith in me and believes in me because that’s brilliant for me to find my feet and progress on in professional football.

“I have always known the pathway is there at Crewe having come through the academy. I’m just grateful that I have been given the opportunity to play and I just want to take that [chance] now.”

O’Riordan went on to praise his fellow team-mates in the academy setup and said: “We have a really good set of youth team players and a lot of us have been offered professional contracts for next year so hopefully next season more of us can start playing together.”