Midfielder returns against Barnsley after injury lay-off.

Joel Tabiner’s return to the pitch on Saturday was an added boost to the Crewe Alexandra squad ahead of a busy start to the season.

The young midfielder, who made his first team debut last season, had missed the later part of the campaign with an ankle and foot injury and that unfortunately cut-short his loan spell at Neil Baker’s Leek Town side.

The Liverpool born midfielder agreed professional terms in the summer after making his senior debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Under-21 side in the Football League Trophy back in November.

Tabiner came on as a second half substitute at Barnsley alongside other Academy graduates such as Lunt and Holicek.

Morris said after the goalless draw at Barnsley: “It was good to have Joel back with us and it was another good experience for all those young lads that were involved. It was a good experience for them to be against players of that level.

“Joel has worked hard to get to the point where we can re-join us now and it has been a long, hard slog for him because the injury took long than any of us would have hoped or wanted it to. He had quite severe bruising on his foot to go with it.

Alex added: “He came on and did well and we know he is going to be a good player and like all our young players, the experience of playing against this level of opposition will only be beneficial.”