Alex still without key duo

Tomorrow’s home match with Hartlepool has come too quickly for Crewe Alexandra’s injured pairing of Abdul Osman and Byron Moore. Both are struggling with ankle injuries but have been able to step up their rehabilitation this week with some running. They have an outside chance of being fit for the club’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night.

Crewe have welcomed back defender Adam Dugdale (back) and Michael West (heal) into full training but both are unlikely to feature this weekend. Young midfielder Billy Waters is expected to be named on the substitutes’ bench again after being named for the first time against Oldham on Tuesday night.