Injury to another full-back increases Crewe search

Crewe Alexandra’s injuries at full-back have not been helped with the news that youngster Nathan Woodthorpe looks set to be ‘out for a while with an ankle injury’.

The 20-year-old has made two senior appearances this season in the Papa John’s Trophy and also spent time out on loan at Witton Albion. The Academy graduate can play at full-back or as a centre-half and could have been handed more opportunities with Rio Adebisi and Callum McFazdean both still ruled out through injury.

Crewe Alexandra have played a flexible wing-back system for the majority of the season and operated with the on-loan Kayne Ramsay on the right and Travis Johnson on the left in our last outing against Rotherham United in the Papa John’s Trophy.