DAVE Artell says Crewe Alex fans can play a leading role in the club's next two games.

The Railwaymen face back-to-back home games, with Burton Albion's visit to the Mornflake Stadium followed by next Tuesday's clash with Morecambe offering an opportunity to secure league success for the first time this season.

Crewe currently sit second from bottom of the League One table with just two points from draws against Cheltenham on the opening day and from last weekend's short trip to Shrewsbury.

It is far from an ideal start, but Artell saw plenty of signs in Shropshire that his revamped side are beginning to gel.

He thinks the fans can help kick start the season after turning out in great numbers for the recent Carabao Cup clash at Premiership Leeds and at the Montgomery Waters Meadow where around 1,100 Alex fans travelled to see the 1-1 draw.

After enduring last season's behind-closed-doors affair - bar two home games last December –Artell says his players can really feel the difference with supporters back in grounds.

"I can't tell you how important the fans are when we go out. I can't tell you how thankful we are, it is vital and I hope they turn up in their thousands on Saturday and on Tuesday night," said the manager.

"The difference between walking out when you can feel the atmosphere and when you walk out and it is flat is huge for the players. The fans have been fantastic this season – I hope they realise how important they are."

Burton, lying seventh with three wins from their opening seven games - will offer stiff opposition tomorrow (KO 3pm), but Artell added: "We're confident that we will get it right, we just need a bit of time and the players need a bit of time. But last Saturday we showed in patches that we can do it."

Meanwhile, the door has been firmly shut on clubs asking to borrow centre-half Billy Sass-Davies as Artell is convinced the North Wales youngster is ready to make inroads into the first team.

Sass-Davies impressed when starting the Leeds cup tie and was also impressive on Wales under-21 international duty last week, scoring for his country in a 4-0 win Euro qualifying win in Bulgaria.

"We have waited for Billy for a while and I personally think he is seriously knocking on the door," said the Crewe boss.

"I spoke to Paul Bodin after Wales' under-21s games and he said we were doing a great job with him as he was coming on nicely. He's now ready to play some first-team football games.

"I've said to him that I've had half a dozen clubs wanting him on loan, but there's no chance of him going anywhere.

"He needs to keep his head on and try not to make silly mistakes and become even more consistent with his performances. We are quite happy with where he is and now he's got to get into the team."