DAVE Artell stressed the importance of keeping Harry Pickering in the Crewe ranks for the rest of the season after the defender completed a move to Blackburn this afternoon.

The sought-after left-back will stay with the Alex for the next four months after Rovers agreed a loan-back arrangement as part of the deal which has seen Pickering pen a four-and-a-half year deal at Ewood Park.

The Championship club, whose bid earlier in January was batted away, returned to up their offer for Pickering in recent days and although the transfer fee is undisclosed, there are reports in Lancashire that it is around the £750,000 mark and the deal will include a sell-on component.

After seeing Perry Ng depart to Cardiff last month, Artell feared losing both his regular full-backs, so the manager is pleased that Blackburn were persuaded to let Pickering stay at Gresty Road for a little longer.

"I think it was important that we didn't lose both full backs and we said that to the agent. I think it was the right thing all round," said the Crewe manager.

"It's a good move for everyone and for us as we are getting Harry back on loan. We will wish him well [when he leaves] from June onwards."

As well as being pursued by Tony Mowbray's side, Stoke and Sheffield Wednesday also expressed an interest in the 22-year-old who has made impressive progress since making his debut in an April 2017 League Two fixture against Leyton Orient.

The Chester-born defender has shown his versatility in midfield too, but it is at left-back that he has played a key role, and he is now approaching the 150-appearance mark for the club.

Pickering has struck a significant partnership down Crewe's left flank with Charlie Kirk, who is the subject of a deadline-day bid from Charlton Athletic.

Artell says he will be glad when the transfer window has shut - who didn't rule out an incoming signing before the 11pm cut-off - as he braced himself for developments over Kirk.

The Addicks were under a transfer embargo when they visited Crewe last September, but have money to play with after a subsequent takeover, although it it is not clear how close any deal is to being struck.

Artell noted: "The same agent that got involved in another deal [with us] is trying to get involved. We'll see where it gets too."

Blackburn were able to agree to let Pickering stay until the end of the season after they negotiated an extension of experienced left-back Barry Douglas' loan from Leeds.

While glad Pickering will remain in the ranks to wear the armband he has inherited from Ng, boss Artell is sure that when he does leave Rovers have a player who will make the step up to Championship football with ease.

"Harry is a Championship player and I truly believe he can go on again from that. You compare him to Ashley Westwood who has played hundreds of games in the Premier League and his technique, temperament is the same as Ashley's," said the Crewe boss.