Crewe midfielder Simon Walton looks to secure future

Simon Walton has scored one goal in 27 appearances for Crewe Alexandra

Crewe midfielder Simon Walton has admitted that he needs to be playing regularly before the end of the season in order to earn a deal in the summer.

The 22-year-old's loan spell from Plymouth ends in May and he told BBC Radio Stoke that, after missing the last two games, his future is unclear.

"I'm not happy to sit on the bench, that's not what I came here to do and not the person that I am," he said.

"I'll be trying my hardest until 8 May to make sure I'm in the team."

The former Leeds and Cardiff player added: "From a selfish point of view, I've still got to try and impress the people who are watching or the people at Crewe."

Walton has not received any contact from his parent club since joining the Alex on loan in September, and has conceded that he will probably leave Home Park in the summer, despite having two years of his contract left to run.

He has made 27 appearances for Crewe, scoring one goal.

Walton's last start came in a 2-2 draw against Barnet on 6 March, and he came off the bench for the final 12 minutes of the 1-1 draw at Torquay a week later.

A rib injury left him unavailable for selection against Notts County and Port Vale, the latter a 1-0 victory in which James Bailey and Steven Schumacher starred in the centre of midfield.