Crewe Alexandra have been boosted this week by the news that leading scorer, Chris Porter and one of our injured centre-halves, Olly Lancashire have commenced running again.

Porter is progressing well from the hamstring strain he suffered against Eastleigh in the FA Cup replay and he has been able to run on the treadmill.

Lancashire, who suffered an Achilles injury after returning to face his old club Swindon Town back in mid-October has been able to commence running outside.

David Artell told crewealex.net: “Two of them are now on amber. Chris has been able to run  on the treadmill and that is a positive.

“With the hamstring, you have to build up to the intensity work because that is what it is more likely to reoccur. That will come at the end of his recovery but he is improving every day.

The boss added: “Olly has been running already, although tentatively. He will be running all this week and next week and that is half the battle with an Achilles injury, just to be able to run again.”