Crewe could be without loan goalkeeper for a number of weeks

Crewe Alexandra are hoping that a thigh injury to on-loan goalkeeper Neil Etheridge is not too serious. The young Fulham goalkeeper aggravated the muscle when completing a final clearance up the pitch in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crawley Town and he had to undergo a precautionary scan yesterday.

Manager Steve Davis told the club’s official web-site: “Neil has had a scan after suffering a strain in his quad muscle. He sustained it by making the final kick of the game.

“We are waiting for the scan results but if he has suffered that type of injury it could be 3-5 weeks maximum. We will know more today.

“We will have to see but if he is ruled and his loan deal had to come to a premature end then that would be a blow for us, because he was playing well and improving with every appearance.

“Neil was making some great saves and had a real presence in the goal for us. He is a terrific lad and it would be a big loss.”