Neil Cox is set to undergo his operation on his long-term shoulder problem next week but before that the inspirational club captain is still hoping to be involved against Leeds United and then perhaps the rearranged match with Carlisle United match on the Tuesday evening.

Cox is currently struggling to hold down a regular place in Steve Holland's starting eleven but the former England Under-21 starlet is still a very useful man to have on the substitutes bench, around the dressing room and when needed out on the pitch. Only recently at Leyton Orient the experience and extra height offered by Cox proved invaluable as Crewe held out for a 1-0 win and after losing Julien Baudet through injury in the process.

Neil doesn't know if he will be involved at Elland Road but is still determined to offer his services from the bench or even as a spectator.

Neil told the club's official web-site: "We have had a couple of decent results of late and look to have come back into a little bit of form. We managed to come back against Swansea, from being 2-0 down at half-time and then we played really well at Leyton Orient.

"We were hanging on a bit at the end, but I thought we deserved to win the game on our first half performance alone. With those two results giving us a bit of confidence we were all looking forward to the Carlisle match.

"All the lads wanted to get the game on because we need the points and really fancied our chances at home. It would have been nice to have got another three points and put the club's below us under more pressure.

Cox added: "Sadly, the Carlisle match was postponed but we have had a free week to work on a few things, which has been good. Some results have also gone our way and the teams in-and-around us do not have as many games in hand anymore, so everyone is nearly level now in terms of matches played."

The club captain is fully expected to be named in the squad, which will travel to Yorkshire this weekend, and although Cox doesn't know if he will get some minutes on the pitch, he will be offering his experience to make sure the younger members of the squad rise to the occasion.

Cox added: "I think when the fixtures come out in the summer, everyone looks for Leeds United at Elland Road. It is a big game for us and it is something everyone is looking forward too.

"They have had a tough time of it of late in terms of getting some wins and a new manager coming in, so it might be a good time to play them.

"I'm not sure what formation we are going to play at Leeds, so I don't know if I will be involved yet. I will just have to see what happens."