David Artell has emphasised the importance of maintaining focus and momentum as the Mariners prepare for an Easter double-header against Harrogate Town and Crawley Town.

Town return to action on Good Friday at Blundell Park before making the trip to Crawley on Easter Monday, with the Head Coach eager to see his side carry the right mentality into what he describes as a crucial period for the football club.

Here’s everything he had to say ahead of the weekend…

On the recent break

With nearly two weeks since the last fixture against Barrow, Artell explained that the squad were given valuable time to recharge before the final run-in.

“Yeah, the players had plenty of time off and I think it was important both physically and mentally,” he said.

“They’ve earned the time. We’ve had some coaching days over the last few days, but the vast majority of the week before was off so they could spend time away before a really important month for the football club.”

On the players returning refreshed

Artell has been pleased with the attitude shown since the group returned to training.

“I think they enjoy being in work,” he said.

“They’ve trained well this week, I have to say. If I was a player at this moment in time, I’d be excited.

“I spoke to a few of the lads and some went away for a few days, some went walking in the Lakes or the North York Moors, and a couple of them said they couldn’t wait to get back because they were bored.

“It’s been a good mental break from the constant nature of football and hopefully that shows over the next few weeks.”

On the importance of timing

With eight games remaining in the season, Artell believes the break could prove beneficial.

“It’s the first time the football club has really had something like an international break,” he explained.

“We’ve tried to use it as wisely as we could.

“It gives us a full month now where there’s a lot to play for, and that’s an exciting position to be in.”

On international call ups

Jude, Clarke, and Géza were away representing their countries during the break, something Artell views as a positive experience for the players.

“I saw a bit of Jude’s game yesterday when he came on and they got a good win to qualify,” he said.

“Géza has already been back in with us and the other two will return tomorrow.

“We’ve been in touch with them and they’ve said they’re fine, but we’ll see how they are when they get back and assess whether they can be involved on Friday.”

On managing the travel

With long journeys involved for the players returning from international duty, the coaching staff have worked to ensure they return in the best condition possible.

“They’re professional athletes and they know how to look after themselves,” Artell said.

“But we also send them away with a plan from a nutrition and travel perspective so they stay hydrated and manage the journey properly.

“They’ll come in tomorrow and we’ll see how they are.”

On Harvey Rodgers’ new contract

Artell also spoke about the recent news that Harvey Rodgers has signed a new deal with the Club until the summer of 2028.

“I think he’s the best right-back in the league,” Artell said.

“I haven’t seen a player go past him yet and we’re 38 games in.

“He trains properly every day, he’s a good character and he’s developed into a really accomplished full-back.”

The Head Coach also believes there is still more to come from the defender.

“There’s absolutely more to come from him,” he added.

“He’s scored some important goals and continues to improve, but the biggest thing is his character. It’s exemplary.”

On attacking options and competition

Artell highlighted the strength in depth within his squad, pointing to the impact made by players across the forward positions.

“Regardless of the position, we feel as though we’ve got quality and competition,” he said.

“That’s important because we’re going to need everyone.”

The Head Coach also referenced Justin Amaluzor’s key contribution earlier in the campaign.

“If you asked me what the most important single goal this year has been, I’d probably say Justin’s against Shrewsbury on December 29th,” he said.

“We’d battered them and couldn’t score, then he comes on and scores a really good goal.

“Since that point we’ve lost two in 17 games, so it shows how important those moments can be.”

On the challenge of the Easter fixtures

With matches against two teams battling near the bottom of the table, Artell insists the focus must remain on Town’s own performance.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s Barrow, Harrogate, Crawley, Crewe or Chesterfield,” he said.

“For me, it’s about us.

“It’s about how we use the ball, how committed we are without it and how we approach the game.

“If we play well, we’ll give anyone in this league a game.”

On preparing for Harrogate and Crawley

Artell explained that preparation for the two matches requires slightly different approaches, particularly given Crawley’s recent managerial change.

“With Harrogate, Simon Weaver has been there a long time so you have a really clear idea of how they set up,” he said.

“That makes preparation a little more straightforward.

“With Crawley, we’ve had to do a bit more work because there’s a new manager. I went to watch them last weekend to see how they were setting up.”

Despite that change, Artell emphasised that the club’s preparation process remains consistent.

“The process is always the same,” he said.

“We don’t cut corners and we prepare in the same level of detail every time.

“It might just mean there are a few more possibilities to consider.”

On the run in

With the final weeks of the campaign approaching, Artell is excited by what lies ahead for the Mariners.

“It’s going to be an exciting time,” he said.

“If we focus on what we do and perform well, hopefully we can have a really good few weeks.”

You can watch David Artell’s full pre-match interview with club media below:

UTM