Crewe Alexandra have been handed an injury boost ahead of this weekend’s trip to Northampton Town. Winger Daniel Powell has made a successful return to training and defender Eddie Nolan is expected to return shortly to training.

Both players have been suffering with ankle injuries.

Powell hasn’t featured since scoring his first goal for the club away at Carlisle United and ever-present Nolan missed the 2-0 win at Accrington on Saturday after being forced off against Everton Under-21s in the mid-week.

Powell has returned to modified training to avoid too much contact but he has a chance of facing his former club this weekend.

The boss told crewealex.net: “Daniel returned to training yesterday and he will train again today. We have modified it a bit but he has been fine.

“We will see how he is this week. He is fit and available then we will be under contention like everyone else.

“Eddie’s swelling on his ankle has gone down so he will fine and back involved this week.”