Steve hoping that on-loan Fulham goalkeeper will play for Crewe again

Steve Davis has not ruled out going back in for the on-loan Fulham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge once he returns to full fitness. The Alex boss is hoping to have the Philippines number one available again before the end of his current loan deal in January, after he sustained a thigh muscle against Crawley. Etheridge picked up the grade 2 tear in his quad when making the final clearance in our 1-0 over Crawley at the Alexandra Stadium and his estimated time out was deemed at between 3-5 weeks.

The 23-year-old has returned to his parent club for treatment, something Steve welcomed due to the facilities available to him at the Premier League club.

Although disappointed to lose Etheridge to the next few weeks, the Alex boss is hoping we haven’t seen the last of him yet.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “Neil has gone back to Fulham for treatment and that is the ideal because of what is available to him there. He will have the very best facilities and more one-on-one treatment with the physio’s there.

“Rob (Sharp) does a brilliant job here but there is just him with the first team. Neil will get more time at Fulham and it is closer to home for him.

“It is disappointing to lose him because he had settled in and was getting better with every game. He was finding his feet and giving us a real presence in goal. I like that in a goalkeeper and at 23, he was already looking like an established goalkeeper.

“He came here to play games and we are disappointed for him because he is a terrific lad and works hard.

 “I hope he can come back before the end of his loan and then of course the window will give us a chance to re-assess things and perhaps go in for him again. A lot can happen between now and then at both clubs, but it is certainly something we would consider.”