With his team-mate, Will Jaaskelainen away on International duty with Finland Under-21s, goalkeeper David Richards will get the chance to stake his claim for more involvement at first-team level against Mansfield on Tuesday night and then away at Carlisle United at the weekend.

David told crewealex.net: “Will is away on international duty, so Dave (Richards) will get his chance again.

“He has to go in and play well and do everything he can to stake his claim.

“Whoever plays tomorrow night, it is an opportunity for them. It was the same at Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup when some of the performances that night were terrific.

“That was a night when a few of them set the standard and it is the same at Mansfield tomorrow night.”