CREWE Alexandra are actively looking to bring a new player in to replace departing forward Brad Inman.

The Australian international agreed to a move to League One side Peterborough on Monday.

Inman joined the Posh after his contract at the Alexandra Stadium expired although Alex manager Steve Davis was not surprised, admitting that he did not expect the 24-year-old to re-sign for the club.

Given that his departure was anticipated, Davis declared that he had already spoken to a possible replacement.

Davis said: “With Brad going it is up to me to find someone as good as Brad, if not better.

“That is what we have to try and do and I’ve spoken to one who we know would make a difference to us.

“I would be delighted if we could get this one into the club.

“He could replace the goals Brad gave us and would be a more specialist centre forward to go with what we already have.

“I don’t want numbers.

“I want quality and some more experience.

“I have a pool of young players I can call upon, so we are looking for those who will make a difference to the team.”

Meanwhile with the pre-season period approaching fast, Davis has declared that he wants a fully fit squad to select from when they travel to Stevenage for the opening day of the season.

The Railwaymen suffered a blow going into the start of last season when James Jones suffered a shoulder injury at Alsager and needed an operation.

They were also without club captain Harry Davis (knee) and new signing Billy Bingham suffered a serious hamstring injury away at Wigan Athletic in what was only the club’s sixth game of the new campaign.

Davis said: “It will be a steady build up over the pre-season but it will be hard for them.

“I would think it will break a few of them and it will be interesting to see how the younger players cope with it.

“They haven’t had the experience of going through it at a senior level.

“We will have the games to get them match fit but I am hoping that we don’t suffer any set-backs along the way.

“I want to keep them all fit and available for the opening day of the season.

“We didn’t have that last season.

“We lost Jonah (James Jones) with a shoulder injury.

“Harry was still coming back and then Billy got injured fairly early on, so we were without three key players before we had even got into the second month of the season.

“I will push them as hard as I can and I hope they all get through unscathed, so I can select what I think will be the strongest side for the Stevenage game.”