DAVE Artell says Crewe's players should relish their trip to Ipswich amid what has been a tough start to the League One campaign.

The Railwaymen have played five of the current top 10 in their opening eight games, yet have a creditable 10-point haul although Artell is demanding better.

It is more than 14 years since Crewe last played the Tractor Boys in a league fixture and 15 since they visited Portman Road.

But Artell stressed: "You can't ask for any more tasty a game than Ipswich away. They're tough games, but that is why we were striving so hard last season so we could play these games.

"With all due respect we don't want to go to Stevenage and Cambridge - if we have to be travelling for four hours then we want to be going to places like Ipswich."

Promotion favourites Ipswich moved up to third in the table after their 1-0 midweek win over Gillingham, while Crewe's defeat (0-1) at the hands of leaders Lincoln left them in 15th place.

Artell added: "Paul Lambert plays 4-3-3 and Ipswich are a footballing team who will try and open us up. They have got Ollie Hawkins who is 6ft 5 up top so they can go direct if they need to.

"They've got a good balance, but it is Ipswich so you'd expect them to be good. They're a big club, but it is 11 versus 11 on a Saturday afternoon and that is what we look forward to.

"We've done okay, but I am not satisfied with okay. We've had one or two tough games but they are par for the course [in League One]."

Meanwhile, young midfielder Josh Lundstram will be sidelined for several weeks after undergoing a scan to assess the extent of an ankle stress fracture.