Steven Davis: 'Semi Ajayi can bring added quality to Crewe Alexandra'

Crewe Alexandra manager Steven Davis has admitted that he is delighted to have brought Semi Ajayi on loan to the club to provide some much-needed defensive cover.

The Arsenal academy product joined Cardiff City on a permanent deal in the summer following a half-season loan, but has yet to break into the first-team ranks due to the strong competition for places.

Ajayi was sent to AFC Wimbledon on a short-term basis earlier this term, admitting that he was enjoying the prospect of being handed regular playing time at Football League level.

A move to Crewe was wrapped up on Thursday afternoon, meaning that the 22-year-old is now eligible to feature alongside former teammate Ben Nugent in Saturday's meeting with Oldham Athletic.

"There was not a lot of time to get one through yesterday, but we went to work on it and managed to get one in," Davis told the club's official website. "I am pleased that we have been able to get Semi in and it was important we did something because we were two centre-halves down and Stephen Kingsley went back to Swansea, which didn't help us.

"We needed some cover and it was great to get another body in. He has spent some time on loan at Wimbledon and did well for them but I've told him it's a step up in level coming into League One. There are better teams and better players. It's a good league. I've told him that he will come here to play.

"He won't be on the bench and he will cover until we have H (Harry Davis) back fit. Semi trains with the Cardiff first team and has been at Arsenal so he knows quality and now it is about him transferring that into League One and competitive games."

Crewe recently lost George Ray to a broken ankle, which will likely keep the centre-back out of action for the next three months.