Crewe without Davis and Jones for season opener.

Crewe Alexandra will be without their recently elected new captain Harry Davis (knee) and James Jones (shoulder) for the opening game of the season against Port Vale. Both players picked up the injuries during pre-season and are currently undergoing rehabilitation at the club’s Reaseheath Training complex.

First year professionals Perry Ng (tendonitis) and Andre Brown (ankle) are both expected not to be fit enough to be under consideration. They both received game time during pre-season.

Young forward Fraser Murdoch is also ruled out after only returning towards the end of last season from a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Steve Davis could hand Crewe debuts to some of his summer signings, Ben Nugent, David Fox, Adam King, Billy Bingham with goalkeeper Dave Richards expected to be named on the bench as deputy to Ben Garratt.