DAVE Artell says different reasons prompted his decision to omit two of Crewe's homegrown stars from the weekend starting line-up against Burton.

Luke Offord was dropped to the bench as Terell Thomas and Donervon Daniels occupied the two central defensive berths to accommodate a switch back to a flat back four. While midfielder Oli Finney failed to make the 18 on duty in Crewe's first victory (2-0) of the league campaign.

There were only three home-produced players in the starting XI, although Offord and Josh Lundstram did feature off the bench later in the game.

But boss Artell is mindful of placing too many demands on 21-year-old Offord after the defender was hit by serious hamstring injuries in the second part of last term.

He is prepared to utilise the strength in depth he has at his disposal with Thomas and Daniels vying for places.

"We explained it to both of them," said the Crewe manager. "I don't want Luke to suffer like he did last season. Oli was a completely different reason. He's a good player, but he knows what he's got to do.

"We've got a decent squad with depth to it and we've got to blend that with the young ones coming through like Rio [Adebisi] and Travis [Johnson] and the others like Tyreece Onyeka and Joe Robbins."

The arrivals of impressive Celtic loanee Scott Robertson and Madger Gomes have beefed up Artell's options in the middle of the park.

It has meant Finney along with Lundstram, who appeared to be making his breakthrough when starting the opening four games, are feeling the heat of competition. While the loss of Tommy Lowery - whose exclusion from the first team continues amid his contract wrangle - may not be hardfelt.

After missing the September 11 trip to Shrewsbury, Gomes was named on the bench against the Brewers after his Home Office paperwork came through.

The 24-year-old Spaniard did not make his debut, but he was given a chance to boost his match fitness today (Monday) when he played an hour of an under-23s game against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium, which the South Wales outfit won 4-2.

Artell's men will be looking to build on the weekend success when newly-promoted Morecambe - two points and three places better off than Crewe in the League One table - visit the Mornflake Stadium tomorrow (Tuesday) night (K.O 7.45pm).