JORDAN Connerton says he has unfinished business before he tries to lay claim to a Crewe first-team place.

The prolific non-league striker joined the Alex yesterday for an initial £15,000 fee, but was immediately loaned back to Lancaster City to spearhead their UniBond League Division One North promotion bid.

Connerton has scored 35 goals this season, which has left Lancaster at the top of their division – the northern equivalent of Leek Town's league.

"I'm going back to Lancaster until the end of the season and I want to help them get promoted," declared the 20-year-old.

"Then I'll work hard in pre-season and try to get into Crewe's team next season.

"I just want to be the next name on their list of players who have come through from non-league."

Like Luke Varney and Tom Pope before him, the promising striker was spotted by Neil Baker, who was urging a deal be brokered several months ago because a number of other clubs, including Bury, Morecambe and Motherwell, were hovering.

Dario Gradi made his final check in Lancaster's midweek win at Prescot Cables.

Ironically, Connerton, who has scored 26 times in 28 league games, failed to register, but the Crewe boss had seen enough to offer a three-year deal.

Gradi said: "It was the first time I'd seen him play, although he's been training with us for a while now.

"The thing which impressed me was he doesn't 'face up', he looks for a gap.

"You can never be sure with these sort of signings. Luke Varney took two years to come through. If Jordan does as well we'll be delighted."

Connerton took time to recover from a serious injury before blazing the goal trail.

He made his debut for Lancaster aged 16 in the Conference North while still a student at Myerscough College, near Preston.

But after recovering from a broken ankle he had a spell at Chorley.

He added: "I'm delighted to be given an opportunity. I feel I've got an all-round game to add to my goalscoring.

"The UniBond League is physical and you get battered around a bit. It's helped toughen me up – I'm used to getting kicked."