Alex handed another injury blow

Crewe Alexanadra’s depleted squad looks like it could have taken another hit after Alex boss Steve Davis revealed that Adam Dugdale is a major doubt for Saturday’s meeting with Leyton Orient with a back complaint.

The Alex are already without the likes of Steve Phillips, Mathias Pogba and Michael West, as well as the suspended Chuks Aneke for the visit of in-form Orient and now Dugdale is rated as a major doubt with back spasms.

Dugdale has been fighting for a centre-half role with Mark Ellis and Harry Davis, but was the only member of the substitutes at Carlisle to have a started a league game for the club, meaning the club could have a very inexperienced bench for the Orient clash.

Davis told crewealex.net: “Duggy has got a spasm in his back which developed yesterday, so that could be our one experienced player from Tuesday ruled out.

“Thankfully the likes of Pogba, Phillips and West aren’t too far away, and could start training with us on Monday if they come through a fitness test today okay. Those players will be vital for us with the run of games we have got coming up.

“But at the moment we are giving the younger lads some experience on the bench. They are getting to see what the pace of the game in this league is all about. It is the best education that they can get, and with the fact that we have got injuries and suspensions at the moment, they may well get a chance.”