Crewe’s Kirk ready to steer the ship

EDEN Hazard and Wilfried Zaha will tell you being branded the league’s ‘most skilful’ is followed in the same breath by ‘most fouled’ –and Crewe winger Charlie Kirk is finding this out the hard way.

Touted as one of League Two‘s most skilful players, the
tricky 20-year-old has faced tough treatment from defences nationwide, from
Carlisle down to Crawley.

But little has put off the forward, rapidly convincing many
he’s the latest star to emerge from Crewe’s esteemed academy.

“It’s football, it goes on and it doesn’t really faze me, to
be honest,” he said. “It spurs me on a bit, so I must be doing something right
if the opposition want to kick lumps out of me. I don’t really think about
getting injured at all.”

Having already matched his five-goal haul of last season,
Cheshire cognoscenti compare his natural ability and verve to the likes of
Crewe alumni Dean Ashton and Nick Powell.

Averaging a goal every three games, the youngster has playeda key role in getting the Railwaymen away from anyrelegation danger.

“I don’t think much has changed,” he said. “I think if
anything my own mindset going into games has changed.

“I think I have matured a lot, both on and off the pitch.

“That’s helped me massively by scoring and knowing what I
have to do for the team. I think the major change is maturity.

“I think it is literally just growing up. I’ve not just
woken up one night and thought ‘I need to start switching it on a bit now’.

“I knew I always had it in me, it was just about producing
it. Now I think I am producing it at a consistent level.”

Hailing just ten miles from Gresty Road, Kirk joined the
Alex youth set-up at seven and broke into the first team to debut as a
fresh-faced 18-year-old against Rochdale two years ago.

“Crewe is a good place to be. As everyone knows, the likes
of Dean and Nick have come through,” he said.

“I think it comes from being with all your mates, you all
being the same age, and coming right through the system together to play in the
first team.

“It’s enjoyable more than anything, and you want to do well
from that perspective.

“I started at Crewe when I was seven, and there are a few
others who are in the first team now that all started at round about the same
age. We are a close group.

“We have spoken a lot and there’s no reason that we can’t
get a little run together and target the play-offs.

“A four or five-game run of not losing and you’re right upthere. Personally, I want to get into double figures for goals.”

MAX CHESTERTON