Crewe Alexandra have been boosted by the news that defender Olly Lancashire made a successful return to light training yesterday and that fellow defender Nicky Hunt is running again following his knee injury sustained at Wrexham in our final pre-season game.

Lancashire has missed the majority of the pre-season with a slight tear in his groin but the former Swindon Town captain is making rapid progress and that only gives David Artell a boost with Hunt also missing the season opener against Plymouth Argyle. The versatile Ryan Wintle stepped in at centre-half on Saturday.

David revealed to the club’s official website: “Olly joined in yesterday’s session, although it was slightly modified for him. He will train again today and we will see where he gets to. It is a long week in politics and a day is a long day in football.

“All we can do is wait and see.

“Nicky is running again but not really stretching himself as yet. He is improving and both of them are not far off at all.”