Keeper Waller can prove himself - Crewe boss Bell

Crewe Alexandra manager Lee Bell says it was a difficult decision to drop goalkeeper Tom Booth but now wants on-loan Sam Waller to make the most of his opportunity.

Booth, 21, had been the Alex's first-choice keeper and played the first 19 games of the League Two season before being replaced by Waller, 22, for Saturday's 4-1 win at Tranmere.

Bell, who made the switch after a run of four games without a win, said he gave a lot of thought to leaving Booth out.

"When someone's played so many games in any position it's always a tough decision," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"But Sam's been patient in the background. We had a conversation earlier on in the season and now it's up to him to take his opportunity."

Waller joined Crewe for the season from Premier League side Burnley having spent last season on loan in the National League with Rochdale.

And after six appearances in cup competitions, he marked his league debut with an impressive performance at Prenton Park, seeing Rovers beaten by a double from Max Sanders, an Emre Tezgel penalty and a strike from Tommi O'Reilly.

"I thought he was good [against Tranmere], his distribution was excellent, the throw that led to the penalty is something we've not had this season, so I thought he played his part really well.

"He's very vocal for such a young player and very calm - horizontal at times - and he does command his box. I think that's something that will help us.

"Tom's been good. That was a real stretch of games and he's done fine but we've made a decision and sometimes you have to bring a young player out."

Bell said Crewe goalkeeping coach Fred Barber has the ideal track record to work with both Booth and Waller after the recent successful loan spells of Arsenal's Arthur Okonkwo, James Beadle from Brighton and Aston Villa's Filip Marschall last term.

"Fred's got an excellent record of producing and developing young goalkeepers and that's what we need him to do with Tom," Bell said.

"He's one of our players and we want to see him do well for the club.

"Likewise with Sam, we have a duty of care to his parent club that we treat him well and improve him.

"I think we've got a really good track record over the last three years of helping players develop - not just as goalkeepers but as people."