Crewe Alexandra manager Lee Bell has challenged the club's young players to use their midweek debuts as a springboard for more first-team action. The Railwaymen drew 2-2 with Blackpool in the Jersey Mike Trophy on Tuesday before losing the subsequent penalty shoot-out 4-2.

Bell handed starts to 16-year-old striker Joel Ewusi and 17-year-old centre-back Tom Graves, while 17-year-olds Noah Bell and Ryan Chadwick came off the bench to make their first senior appearances. The manager was impressed by their contributions in a match that saw on-loan striker Charlie McNeill score his first goal for the club.

Praise for young character

"The character they showed and the way they tried to apply themselves in the game, I thought we were tremendous," Bell told reporters. He warned, however, that a single appearance is not a guarantee of future selection. "They can't rely on having played," he said. "They've got to show the same attitude again on Saturday."

The boss emphasised that maintaining the right attitude in training is non-negotiable for earning more chances. "We monitor work rate constantly," Bell said. He wants the same desire and willingness to listen to coaches shown in every session.

McNeill's wait for a start

Bell also addressed the situation of Charlie McNeill, who has featured in all nine of Crewe's league games this season but has only started twice. The Sheffield Wednesday loanee converted his penalty in the shoot-out and is eager for a regular starting role. "He's going to be annoyed, as long as [he's] annoyed with me and not his performance," Bell said, acknowledging the striker's frustration. He praised McNeill's "absolutely brilliant" attitude and backed him to find the net regularly for the side.

Crewe's recent form, with 11 points from their last five unbeaten league games, has them sitting third in the table. They are just one point off the top and have a goal difference of plus 8, having scored 15 goals while conceding only seven. They will look to extend that five-game unbeaten run when they travel to face 13th-placed Swindon Town this weekend. Fans can check the full schedule on the club's fixtures page.

Bell's message is clear for every squad member: performance in training dictates selection. The young players who seized their opportunity against Blackpool now have a benchmark to meet every day.

The report in full is at bbc.co.uk