Boss says having his captain back would be like signing a major player

Steve Davis says getting a fit and firing Matt Tootle back for the second half of the season will be like signing a major player. The club captain has missed the last seven matches after been hit by a viral infection. The 24-year-old full-back made his return for the club’s reserves at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday and he could be in contention for a first team recall at Scunthorpe United this weekend.

Tootle lost a considerable amount of weight over the last few weeks but he has worked hard to regain that strength and he is certain to play his part over the festive period and into 2015.

Boss Steve Davis told the club’s official web-site: “Toots has been able to get two weeks of training behind him and he has been feeling better.

“He fancied a game for the reserves and managed to get some game time under his belt against Blackburn, so that was a step in the right direction. He seems fine.

“An illness like that affects everyone differently and we had a few go down with it but it seemed to really knock Toots about much more. It took hold of him and we were concerned as he lost some weight and he needed to get that back and feel 100% again.

“If we can Toots back to what he was last season, when he was our player of the season then it could like getting a new top player for the second half of the season. He has been fine this season and I’m sure he will rediscover his form after this set-back.

The Crewe boss added: “He just wants to do well for the club and he knows we would love him to stay beyond his current contract. I’m sure we will talk about nearer the time because the most important thing at the moment is for him to concentrate on his football and get back playing.”