Gaffer could wait for Etheridge to regain fitness

Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis says he is in no great hurry to bring in another goalkeeper following the unfortunate injury to his on-loan goalkeeper Neil Etheridge. The Fulham goalkeeper remains our player after returning on loan for the remainder of his 93 days but the 24-year-old unfortunately suffered a slight recurrence of his thigh strain – the same injury that cut short his previous loan spell with us back in November.

Davis selected Etheridge for our away trip to Stevenage, but following his injury quickly recalled young Ben Garratt for the visit of Swindon on Saturday.

Steve told crewealex.net: “I am still in contact with Neil and he is training again without really kicking the ball and putting unwanted stress on the thigh. He has suffered a couple of set-backs with it now and everyone is being cautious with him.

“It could be two to three weeks and we just don’t want it to blow up again for his sake. He has told me the thigh has really settled down and that is a real positive. He hasn’t torn it and it is just some scar tissue there.

“Everyone will take their time with him and of course by the time he is back then it will be the majority of the 28-day period. When that is up Fulham can recall him.

“We could go out and get another goalkeeper in but I am happy with Ben and Steve (Phillips). I am just concerned if one of them got injured and we had to go with one goalkeeper.

He added: “If one of them was to be injured then we would really be short and if we were to get another one in then they would expect to play because they would be sitting on the bench at their parent club anyway. So it is a difficult one.”