DAVE Artell says he has received no calls yet about any of his players with the transfer deadline looming.

That includes enquiries for his out-of-favour defenders who he has told can find new clubs as their game time is likely to be limited at Gresty Road this season.

Olly Lancashire pulled up in the first half of Tuesday night's EFL Trophy win over Newcastle under-21s and the Crewe manager says substituting the centre-half was a precaution ahead of the window, which for EFL clubs runs until Friday, October 16 beyond next Monday's deadline for all international transfers and deals between Premiership clubs.

Lancashire's short Alex career has been hampered by injuries and it seems unlikely that he can force his way in at the back for the League One campaign.

Nolan, the club's player-of-the-season in 2017/18, is fit after recovering from the back problem which kept him out of the latter half of last term.

He has been on the bench twice, but is yet to feature in games although he did start Crewe under-23's midweek defeat (2-3) at the hands of Coventry City.

"Eddie is fit and training every day, but he has got to try and get into the team," said Artell. "I've had no interest in anyone. If the phone rings, it rings and if it doesn't, it doesn't. We're not in a position where we need to sell anyone.

"If clubs think they can nick our players then they are wrong. We are all on the same page on that from top to bottom (in the club)."

Lancashire will be out for around a week after feeling a tweak in the cup game and Artell added: "It was more a precaution than anything else and with the transfer window coming up he didn't want to risk it."

Crewe head for the Kassam Stadium tomorrow looking to maintain the form showed when they posted their first league win on the board last weekend with a 2-0 success over MK Dons.

The Alex boss is an admirer of the impact Karl Robinson has had at Oxford, taking the Us into the play-off spots before last season was curtailed.

"It shows how close they came to being a Championship team so we know how good they're going to be. But we matched Hull the other week and they were a Championship team," he said.

"Oxford have got fluidity through the team and a goalscorer in Matty Taylor. They are well coached as Karl has been there for a while and you can see what they are trying to do."

Selection options are widening for Artell after Tommy Lowery made his first start of the season in the Newcastle game and Daniel Powell featured in the under-23s fixture.

Defensive recruit Donervon Daniels also made his Alex debut against the Toon's youngsters and Artell noted: "It was outstanding how he got through 90 minutes.

"We're not far away with these players. At this level you need to have two fully functioning XIs, so we're heading in the right direction with the squad – we've got a nice blend and a bit of depth."