Boss says utility men Guthrie and NG can fill various positions if needs be.

Crewe Alexandra boss Steve Davis says he could use the versatility of Jon Guthrie if George Ray is not deemed fit enough to face Barnsley this weekend. Ray played 45 minutes of our Development Squad encounter against Sheffield Wednesday on Monday, as he stepped up his own return from the fractured ankle he suffered away at Colchester back in November.

With fellow defender Semi Ajayi returning to his parent club Cardiff after his 93-day emergency loan expired, Steve Davis has to decide whether to recall Ray or use Guthrie in his more natural position. The former Pewsey Vale youngster has performed admirably at left-back this season but he has also played centrally on occasions with Ray and club captain Harry Davis struggling with injuries this season.

Zoumana Bakayogo would covert back into his more natural left-back berth after impressing on the left hand side of midfield against Chesterfield last weekend.

Steve told crewealex.net: “We will have to assess how George is today (Wednesday). He has missed a lot of football and I’ll have to decide if he is fit enough to start or be on the bench.

He added: “We can cover it with Jon. We have numbers in defence to cope with it with Jon able to play in the centre and Zoumana at left-back. We also have Perry NG who can play at both centre-half and as a full-back as well. We can cover all the areas but it could be a case of juggling things around at bit.”