Midfielder Ben Rix, who was recently made available for loan, suffered an injury blow during a reserve game in mid-week, but what was suspected to have been a hairline fracture to his metatarsol may now not be as bad as first feared.

Rix will undergo an assessment today to determine the extent of the injury that could turn out to be ligament damage in his foot and so reduce his spell on the sidelines.

Steve Holland told crewealex.net: "Ben asked to play in the reserve game at Bolton on Wednesday, and got an injury to his foot, but at this stage it has not been confirmed exactly what he has done. He will have some tests today.

"It is possible that he has a hairline fracture, but then again it could be ligament damage to his foot. We will find out more on that today, but either way he will be out for a few weeks now."

The injury has come at a bad time for Rix, who spent the latter part of last season on the sidelines following a hip injury. He had recently been made available for loan, and interest had just been shown from a League Two club who were planning on watching the academy graduate with a view for a loan move.

Steve says: "We had obviously allowed Ben to go out on loan, he needed that regular football at this stage, and a club in League Two were coming to watch him play, so this is a real set back for him.

"Hopefully, it will not be too bad and keep him out for three months."