Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell says that Nicky Hunt was taken off as a precautionary measure at The New Lane after he felt a tweak in his muscle.

The defender signalled to the bench after clearing the ball out of play and he was immediately replaced by Christian Mbulu with 13 minutes remaining. Crewe deservedly kept a clean-sheet but couldn’t quite find the goal we needed to return to the top of League Two.

The Railwaymen will now assess the fitness of Hunt ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup second round tie at Eastleigh.

Artell said after the goalless draw at the New Lawn: “Everyone is needed. Nicky had to come off with a niggle and we took him off as a precaution. That is why we have a squad of 18, 25 because they will all be needed at some point.

“Christian started on Saturday because Eddie wasn’t quite there and he was needed for the last 15 minutes tonight.

“The pleasing thing is that we didn’t crumble or succumb to Forest Green. We didn’t wilt and I thought we finished strongly and had a great chance at the end if Chris (Porter) could lay it off to one of our players inside the box.”