Alex Morris says it will be frustrating not to have his full squad to choose from for the opening day of the season at Rochdale, but he is confident that he will have a number of those struggling with niggles and slight injures back and in contention.

The Alex boss was missing eight possible first teamers for the friendly against West Bromwich Albion last weekend and he will look to avoid any more being added to that list in the club’s final two friendly games against Lommel SK and Rotherham United.

Morris told crewealex.net: “Most of the injuries we are have to contend with at the moment are short term, nearly half of them in fact. The rest are medium term.

“The short term ones will comfortably be available I would have thought for the Rochdale game. The other half, two or three won’t be available but one or two might.

“It would be lovely to have a full quota to choose from going into the first game because we have some quality but what we are lacking at the minute is some depth.

“I am sure that is the case with many squads but what this club will always have this season is a team out there that is going to give their all, be structured and organised and they will give everything for the 90 plus minutes.

Alex added: “There will be no excuses, lack of players or things going against you in games. You have to survive those challenges, survive the knockbacks and find a way to win.”