CREWE Alexandra boss Steve Davis insists the club must stick to their policy of blooding youngsters from the academy.

The Railwaymen are seven points from safety with 11 games to play in League One and face a trip to promotion-chasing Gillingham on Saturday.

Davis’ side held leaders Burton Albion to a 1-1 draw last weekend, but it was the 11th game the Alex have led in this season without going on to win.

However the boss says he will take positives from the amount of homegrown youngsters making an impression on the first team.

“We have a business model here at Crewe and that is to bring young lads through,” Davis told the club’s official website.

“That is what we are trying to do and we have given them their opportunities this season.

“We have probably had to bring them on a bit quicker than we would have wanted but that can happen when there are injuries or someone is sold on.

“We wanted to keep Ryan (Colclough) but him moving on to Wigan in January has given Charlie (Kirk) more of a chance. That is how it should be here.

“It is difficult for us to bring in top quality players in because of their wage demands, so we have to produce our own. Our record has been good and we want that to continue.”

Kirk has been joined in the first team squad by the likes of Callum Ainley, Perry NG, George Cooper, Joe Howell and Callum Saunders.

“We want to give these kids their chance and stick with them if we can,” he added.

“It is exciting for the club and for our supporters to see skilful and talented lads like Kirk and Ainley coming through and coming on for the first team.

“They are still learning and have a long way to go but this would be an invaluable learning curve for them.

“It is great to see young kids we have had from six and seven coming through and playing for Crewe.

“Although it has been a difficult season for us them coming through and having opportunities is a big shining light for us.”

Crewe have only lost twice in their past 10 games, but Davis says his side must start winning games if they are to remain in League One this season.

“We have to find a way to make sure we start winning games,” he said.

“It’s good that we have been on a good run where we have become harder to beat but we wins now.

“We are still hanging in there and I think that we improve then we are more than capable of going on a little run of successive wins.

“Shrewsbury have managed it, Fleetwood have done it recently, so we have got to try and emulate that and if we can then that will give us a great chance.”