Crewe Alexandra midfield player James Jones has begun his tentative first steps in his comeback from his hernia and hip problem. The Academy graduated had to abort an earlier comeback after complaining of discomfort in the pelvic area and the club’s medical department will continue to be cautious with the 21-year-old.

The Scotland Under-21 international has been a big miss for the Alex this season after he had to undergo surgery for a hernia in the summer. Jones, who scored 11 goals in 50 from midfield last season, is now beginning to run on grass once again.

Crewe boss David Artell told the club’s official web-site: “Jonah has made his first tentative steps. He has been out running on the grass again.

“It is positive news but we won’t know how he is really is, until we get to those final stages of his rehab. He got extremely close last time. It wasn’t until he was sprinting and twisting and turning that he felt some discomfort.

He added: “It was when he went to the intensity he needed to return to full training that we discovered that he wasn’t quite there. He has had some set-backs along the way, but once he can get through his rehab then he will be back in the frame.”