DAVE Artell has pledged to make Mikael Mandron an even better striker after the Frenchman agreed a contract extension with Crewe.

The Frenchman, the club's leading scorer with nine goals, penned fresh terms until the summer of next year this week which will allow his manager to plan how he can get more out of the tall frontman.

Artell confessed that while Mandron fitted the profile during his pre-season recruitment drive, the 26-year-old needed to develop his all-round game.

"Mikael is a good footballer and we have got to get more out of him. When he first came to the club he was just heading it, and that's no disrespect to him, but we've worked on getting him to use his brain and he's come on leaps and bounds," said the Crewe boss.

"He's coachable and has the right profile. He's six foot three and he can run like a race horse. Can he be improved? Yes, because he works hard and he takes on board what we're saying.

"One of the reasons we wanted him was that we feel he can improve with us - we've got to put that work into him - and score more goals for us. It is what we do, that we promise to take players and make them better."

Mandron, who faces his former club Sunderland when the Black Cats visit Gresty Road tomorrow (Saturday, K.O 3pm), says he was keen to lengthen his stay at the club after being impressed with the emphasis on technical development in training sessions, as well as the camaraderie about the place.

"There's a philosophy here and a way of coaching, it's very detailed and there's an emphasis on tactical and technical improvement," he said.

"Ever since I signed here last summer I have learned a lot.

"When I was offered a new contract it was a straightforward decision for me as I want to be here longer.

And he added: "There's still a lot to come from me. At Swindon last week I was disappointed as I had good opportunities to score goals and on a different day I would have trusted myself to score them. I definitely took the responsibility for that."

Meanwhile, boss Artell says contract talks with defender Omar Beckles are progressing. Like Mandron, the former Shrewsbury player signed a one-year deal when he joined Crewe last summer and on a potential extension his manager said: "Talks are ongoing and encouraging. We are moving in the right direction."