Crewe goalkeeper faces a race against time to be fit again this season.

Reserve goalkeeper David Richards faces a race again time to be involved again this season after he suffered a fractured a finger in Tuesday’s Cheshire Cup win over Hyde United. The Wales-born stopper courageous completed the 90 minutes and kept a clean-sheet in our comfortable 4-0 win.

The former Cardiff City and Bristol City goalkeeper will undergo an operation on his injured finger on Wednesday and it is estimated he will be out to 6-8 weeks.

David Artell has moved swiftly to sign a replacement goalkeeper to provide back-up to number one Ben Garratt.