DAVE Artell is set to welcome players back to the fold as he prepares to take charge of his 200th Crewe game.

In previous weeks Covid-19 has hit the Alex camp with Tommy Lowery, Olly Lancashire and Donervon Daniels having to self-isolate.

But Crewe boss says the squad travelling to Plymouth for tomorrow's League One clash (K.O 3pm) will be in "far better shape" and will include skipper Perry Ng, who has served out his six-game suspension.

Artell expects a tough assignment on his landmark game against a side who are top of the form table at home for their recent performances.

Ryan Lowe's men fell to a sixth successive defeat when they lost (1-2) at Crewe on December 15, but Artell is expecting a much tougher game and will be looking to erase the memory of last season's defeat (1-2) at Home Park, which was marred by a controversial refereeing display.

"It was a good game down there last season, but it was spoiled by the referee," recalled Artell. "It is a tough place to go, it always is.

"But we're seven unbeaten. We've got players back and we're in far better shape than last week.

On the return of Ng, Artell added: "He's got to pick up the baton from when he was suspended because he was playing well.

"He's had a long time out to gather his thoughts and he knows his behaviour fell a bit short. But he is a terrific lad and it doesn't matter whether you're 21 or 26 most footballers know what it takes to be a good professional and we have no qualms on how Perry is."

There is good news on summer signing Daniels after the defender paid a visit to a London specialist this week. The 27-year-old has only played twice for Crewe and hasn't featured since tearing a hamstring in October, but it is estimated he is a month away from making a return to action.

Artell said: "Daniel caught Covid when he went into hospital for a specialist appointment. But he has seen a specialist again this week and it is really good news and we could be seeing him again by the end of February."

Meanwhile, after a flurry of interest in his players (Ng and Harry Pickering) the Alex boss says he has "irons in the fire" himself, but any transfer window incomings are resting on how other clubs line up their business.

Crewe are looking to strengthen, but Artell pointed out: "It is a harder window than the summer, but hopefully we can get some stuff done.

"It's been a bit frustrating at times, but in this window there is going to be a lot of activity late on. There are a lot of chairmen and CEOs scared to do business which would leave their clubs open, so they're getting their ducks in line and it is a bit of a chess match at the moment.

"We're doing work and we've got five hours on the bus to Plymouth during which time myself, John Dillon (analyst), Kenny (Lunt) and Fred Barber (goalkeeper coach) will be working on recruitment."

And on the call for players to ditch high five and hugging celebrations amid Covid concerns, Artell stressed again the highly-regulated environment the football industry finds itself in.

This week the club's players and staff have undergone two sets of EFL-supervised tests, funded by the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA).

"We got tested again yesterday and we're getting tested twice a week. This hasn't come from the government, it's come from the media and people getting annoyed seeing footballers celebrating.

"It should be the least of our worries. Why not pick on set pieces where there is more contact? It is social media warriors. I'd be more concerned about superstars having haircuts than footballers.