Game time 'massive' for Crewe hat-trick hero Tezgel

Emre Tezgel spent the second half of the 2023-24 season in League Two with MK Dons where he scored three goals in 15 league games

Crewe Alexandra striker Emre Tezgel said he was "proud" to claim his first league hat-trick for the club and that playing more minutes is "massive" in helping his development.

The highly rated 20-year-old is on a season-long loan from Championship neighbours Stoke City and grabbed his second treble for the Alex in Saturday's 3-2 win over Grimsby in League Two.

Tezgel has had to be patient to earn his chance in Lee Bell's first team, with the game against the Mariners only his fourth start of the season.

After Crewe went behind early, Tezgel scored twice in 10 minutes to put them in front only for Grimsby to level at half-time.

But his deft header from 12 yards with three minutes to go clinched the win, keeping Crewe firmly in touch with the top seven following back-to-back defeats.

"It was obviously a proud moment to get the three goals and also to get the three points," Tezgel told BBC Radio Stoke.

"My head was a bit in the clouds to be honest but [it was] just relief when it went in and the celebrations were mad. It was a great moment."

Tezgel had already achieved some notable success before he moved to the Mornflake Stadium.

He became the youngest ever to play for Stoke's first-team when he made his debut in an FA Cup tie against Leyton Orient as a 16-year-old in January 2022.

Tezgel has also made 15 Championship appearances and scored two goals for the Potters in the Carabao Cup last season.

After scoring his first goal for Crewe in their EFL Cup tie at Stockport in August, he hit a hat-trick in the 7-1 thrashing of Chesterfield in the Vertu Trophy before grabbing his fifth of the season against Liverpool's under-21s in the same competition two weeks ago.

That led manager Bell to say Tezgel would get a chance to nail down a regular first-team place and, after starting the last two, the striker has taken it with both hands.

"The game time's massive," Tezgel added. "Obviously you want to be scoring goals, so I just need to keep scoring and I'll be happy.

"It's been a rough few weeks for the boys but you've just got to keep doing things right in training and the results will come."

'If he performs like that, he will stay in the team'

Bell said he was "really delighted" for Tezgel and said he is being rewarded for all his hard work.

"We've shown him certain things, how we want him to improve, and he has done," Bell said.

"I'm pleased for people who work hard, get on with it and make the most of their opportunity.

"We fought hard to get him to the football club and sometimes it just takes those moments - against Chesterfield and Liverpool.

"He's a great person, works hard, wants to do extras and doesn't moan.

"They'll [Stoke] probably say he's a bit behind in minutes where they want him to be and he'll probably say that himself but if he performs like that he's going to stay in the team.

"He's been such a plus to the group."