EXCITING loan capture Rekeem Harper could prove to be a "real asset" in Crewe's relegation fight.

That's the view of boss Dave Artell, who is expected to hand the 21-year-old midfielder his Alex debut against Plymouth Argyle at the Mornflake Stadium tomorrow night (Tuesday)

Harper has a pedigree of playing Championship football, having broken through into West Brom's senior ranks in his teens and also featuring for Blackburn and Birmingham City in loan stints.

He joined Ipswich in a £500,000 deal last summer, but last started for the Tractor Boys in League One back in September.

Harper became Crewe's fifth signing of the transfer window when he joined just before last Monday's deadline and Artell believes he can make a significant contribution if he can play regularly.

"Rekeem has had a stop-start career so far, but he is undoubtedly a talented footballer," said Artell.

"If he get some consistency, and he has got to play consistently too, then he'll be an asset.

"That's the challenge. He's a good player and we know that having played against him when he was at Blackburn [FA Cup second round ties in December 2017].

"We've got to make him comfortable to play good football and if he does that then he'll be a real asset to the team."

Crewe go into the Argyle clash without striker Mikael Mandron, who is due to see a specialist today about the knee injury he suffered in last Tuesday's defeat at Gillingham.

Teenage defender Zac Williams is also seeing a specialist this week (Wednesday) after being ruled out in recent weeks because of illness.

Plymouth arrive in South Cheshire (KO 7.45) three days after their battling FA Cup fourth round exit at Chelsea.

Of the eighth-placed side, Artell added: "They're a good team, a tough nut to crack as the Champions of Europe found out at the weekend.

"But you hope that they're not as up for it as they were at the weekend and we raise our levels. Anyone can beat anyone in this league as Doncaster [2-1 winners at Sunderland on Saturday] showed."