CREWE head south for Saturday's League One clash at Portsmouth having bolstered their defensive ranks with the signing of Terell Thomas.

The former AFC Wimbledon centre-half has signed a one-year deal at the Mornflake Stadium to become the Alex's sixth signing of the summer.

Thomas, 25, will boost the options in the heart of the defence after another of Dave Artell's summer signings, Tommie Hoban, slipped from view over the past week.

The former Watford and Aberdeen man was not involved in Crewe's opening two games against Cheltenham and Tuesday night's Carabao Cup tie at Hartlepool and it is understood he has been considering his future in the game.

Thomas, who was a free agent after leaving the Dons, has a pedigree as a youngster at Arsenal and Charlton, with whom he turned professional. After loan stints in non-league with Woking and Sutton United, he made over 80 appearances for AFC Wimbledon during a three-year stint.

Artell is hopeful he can complete another deal over the weekend and says "more work" will need to be done before the transfer window shuts.

Meanwhile, Crewe will check on the fitness of keeper Will Jaaskelainen before the Pompey game as the stopper is receiving treatment for a quad muscle injury suffered in the cup tie. Jaaskelainen, who recently recovered from Covid-19, was back in goal in midweek after Dave Richards started on the opening day.

Boss Artell isn't fazed by the size of Crewe's task against one of the pre-season promotion favourites. Crewe were thrashed 4-1 at Fratton Park last term, but Artell can also recall a happier visit when the Railwaymen secured success against a high-flying Pompey in 2017.

"They were top of the league that day and I'd just called our players milkmen [after a 4-0 defeat at Hartlepool], but we won 1-0," said Artell. "So we've managed it before when they were riding the crest of a wave. As professional footballers you have to block all that out.

"We're a work in progress, but we have to get there as quickly as we can. Portsmouth is a good test for us."

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