Crewe Alexandra are hoping to have influential midfielder Tom Lowery back for tonight’s re-arranged fixture at Wigan Athletic.

The diminutive play maker missed the weekend defeat to Accrington Stanley at the weekend due to illness. The Academy graduate tried to join in training in the later part of the week, but was unable to and was promptly ruled out of the trip to the Wham Stadium after showing no signs of improvement on the Saturday morning.  

David Artell told us: “Tom was ill in the build up to the game on Saturday and we waited for as long as we could to see if there was any improvement. He phoned me on Saturday morning to say that he was still ill and we had to go without him.

“We also lost Billy (Sass-Davies) on Saturday evening after his scan. They were both set to start and that is the challenges you face. I don’t like using an injury crisis as an excuse because it is what it is but we have had our fair share of set-backs this season. It has been unbelievable at times but you just have to get on with it.

“As one door closes it reopens for others and it is about them grabbing those opportunities and not just going through the door. They have to show what they can do.”