Crewe Alexandra striker Emre Tezgel expressed his gratitude for being back on the pitch and finding the net again after recovering from an ankle injury.
The 20-year-old, on loan from Stoke City, had been sidelined for three months after sustaining the injury in mid-December. He re-entered the starting lineup in Saturday’s impressive 4-0 win against Shrewsbury Town.
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Tezgel played a vital role in the match, helping Crewe take an early 2-0 lead within the first eight minutes. After halftime, he provided an assist for Josh March’s second goal before securing the win with his own goal in the 70th minute.
This marked Tezgel’s 14th goal in an impressive season, coming in his 29th appearance.
“No one enjoys being injured, and I was watching all the games, eager to be on the pitch,” he said in an interview with BBC Radio Stoke. “I’m thrilled to be back on the scoresheet—confidence is crucial for strikers. I’m really happy and hope we can continue to build on this.”
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“I’m incredibly grateful to be back playing, and I aim to finish the season strong.”
Crewe’s victory helped them maintain their push for a League Two playoff spot, with the team sitting just two points away from the top seven, with seven matches remaining.
“I think we’re in a solid position,” Tezgel noted. “While we’ve experienced some losses and a draw before facing Shrewsbury, we’re aware of our potential. We believe in what we have in the locker room and know our goals. We just need to keep working hard and see where it leads us.”
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Next, Crewe will host Oldham Athletic, another team competing for a top-seven finish, on Saturday at 15:00 GMT. The Latics currently sit two points and two places behind Crewe but have two games in hand.