CREWE Alex started pre-season training today under a battery of Covid-19 measures.

Boss Dave Artell says his players will complete three days of non-contact training before undergoing coronavirus tests on Saturday. If they are clear the players will be able to join in small group sessions, but will then take two more tests.

Their Reaseheath training ground has been risk assessed and there are one-way systems in place and regular temperature checks. The manager does not expect the strict regime to change any time soon as the Alex gear up for a return to League One following a four-year absence.

Crewe are among those clubs making an early start to training and boss Artell suspects those that come back later will vote for a later start to the campaign, although September 12 and August 29 have been mooted.

"Because we started before August 1 we had to submit our session plans to the EFL and they had to risk assess them all," Artell told the club's official web site.

"Byron Jenkins has done all the operational stuff for us and the whole training ground, I think one has been done for the ground too. A lot of work has been done and it has all had to be thought out.

"But it's football at the end of the day and some clubs have made a really good fist of returning, others haven't. We've got a six week period, but we don't know, to get it right and get going and carry on the good work we put in last season."

The Crewe manager has been busy in the market having already signed former Accrington forward Offrande Zanzala and while veteran frontman Chris Porter has penned a new deal it is an area still in his thoughts. Nantwich Town striker Joe Makin, the son of former Tranmere striker Chris, is joining training for a trial stint.

The Crewe boss also says he is delighted the 2,000 mark has been hit for season ticket sales despite all the uncertainty about the season's start.