LAURI Dalla Valle says he is the man to fire Crewe Alexandra to safety.

The 23-year-old striker is looking to prove that the Alex do not need any reinforcements as they travel to Colchester United in League One this Saturday.

Boss Steve Davis was left frustrated in his attempts to bring in a new target man before Monday’s transfer deadline.

Sheffield Wednesday’s Caolan Lavery was an option but the 22-year-old opted for Chesterfield.

So Dalla Valle and Nicky Ajose, who drew a blank in a 5-0 thrashing at home to MK Dons, will start at the Proact Stadium.

“Goals are the main thing for us and that’s what I want from the next match,” said the former Liverpool prospect.

“We were all disappointed last weekend but it is just one match and we need to work hard to put things right and get a better result this time.

“The first thing I look at is my performance, analyse it and try to do better.

"I feel sharp and I know it’ll only get better.”

However Davis is likely to return to the loan market when the window opens next week.

“We tried very hard and came very close, on one in particular who had four other clubs interested at the same time,” he explained.

“We lost out there mainly because of the location of that club rather than anything else.

“He could commute from home to that club.

“It’s very hard to get the players you want, at any level. You think you’ve got them then you haven’t.

"It’s a frustrating business for every manager.

“It was similar to the summer, we couldn’t get the stronger players we’d looked at.

“The players we’d have liked would have made a massive difference.

“But you have to have a go. We will revisit it when it reopens in a week’s time and see if we can do it then.”

George Ray is struggling to make the weekend with an inflamed pubic bone while Jon Guthrie (knee) and Matt Tootle (ankle) are on the sidelines.

Chris Atkinson is also on the mend after tweaking a ligament while warming up against MK Dons.

Meanwhile Davis has spoken to both Ben Garratt and Anthony Grant about new contracts.

Defender Harry Davis was the first player to commit himself to the club after agreeing to stay until 2017.

Midfielder Grant, 27, is out of contract this summer while keeper Garratt, 20, looks to be hot property with 18 months still to run on his contract at Gresty Road.

“I think he’s (Grant) happy and wants to stay,” added Davis.

“He’s adjusted to life here and everyone gets on with him.

“I think we’ve got a lot out of him and he’s developed into a mainstay of the team.”