Oldham v Crewe preview

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Latics duo James Tarkowski and James Dayton should shake off their injuries to be ready for the fixture this weekend.

Centre-back Tarkowski (ankle) and midfielder Dayton (knee) were both absent last weekend when Latics fell to a 3-2 loss against Rotherham at the New York Stadium.

However, scans on both injuries have provided boss Lee Johnson with some encouragement prior to the Alex’s trip to Boundary Park.

Midfielder David Mellor was dismissed against the Millers in the first half and now begins a three-match suspension while full-back Connor Brown is some way off a comeback because of a knee injury.

The Railwaymen are hopeful teenager Ryan Colclough can make his comeback this weekend when they take the short trip north.

Colclough has been sidelined by a chest infection and a hip injury but the Alex are keeping their fingers crossed that the 18-year-old will return to full training in time to declare himself fit.

With striker Mathias Pogba (knee) out until December, the Railwaymen would welcome Colclough’s return to action, having failed to win any of their last four Sky Bet League One encounters.

Goalkeeper Alan Martin (hip) remains sidelined and is joined by full-back Gregor Robertson (knee), meaning either Jon Guthrie or Kelvin Mellor will occupy the left-hand side of the defence.

Oldham v Crewe preview

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Oldham boss Paul Dickov will be without the services of Jean-Yves Mvoto.

The central defender picked up his fifth booking of the season in the Boxing Day defeat to Doncaster and will serve a one-match ban.

Mvoto serves his second suspension of the season having already been sent off against Crawley.

Dickov tried to claim a case of mistaken identity, insisting James Wesolowski was the offender, but Latics have no right of appeal.

Fellow defenders Connor Brown and Carl Winchester will battle it out for a place at the back.

Robbie Simpson is also suspended and serves the second of a three-game ban following his red card at Yeovil last weekend.

Crewe boss Steve Davis has hinted at changes to his starting XI.

The Alex blew a half-time lead at Tranmere on Boxing Day to lose 2-1 and Davis has demanded improvement.

Mathias Pogba and Lauri Dalla Valle were both hauled off at Prenton Park and could be replaced from the start this time by Max Clayton and Byron Moore.

Kelvin Mellor is also in the reckoning after making the bench at Rovers, while Ajay Leitch-Smith may also be in contention.

“Kelvin isn’t quite match fit but he’s looking stronger each day,” Davis told the Crewe Guardian.

“Ajay will take a little bit longer, mainly because he has been out for such a long time. We’ll ease him in and if that means putting him on the bench and using him as an impact player, he can do that.”

Ollie Turton (thigh) and goalkeeper Steve Phillips (shin/ankle) are still troubled by injury complaints.

Oldham v Crewe preview

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Veteran goalkeeper Paul Gerrard is set to make his first Oldham start since 1996 in this Northern Area quarter-final tie.

Gerrard is primarily a goalkeeping coach at Boundary Park but maintained his playing registration to act as cover for number one Alex Cisak.

When Cisak was sent off in Saturday’s League One derby with Bury – ruling him out of Tuesday’s cup clash – Gerrard was called upon for his first competitive action in two years and announced his return with a penalty save before Bury ran out 2-0 winners.

On-loan Manchester City forward Luca Scapuzzi was the man sacrificed for Gerrard at the weekend and the 20-year-old Italian will be hoping for a more thorough chance from the start against Dario Gradi’s men, while Etihad Stadium compatriot Andreas Mancini is once again expected to be among the substitutes.

Midfielder James Wesolowski missed Saturday’s game with a knee injury but could be fit to return.

Josh Parker (knee) resumed full-training on Monday but along with fellow forward Reuben Reid (thigh) he is still some weeks away from first-team action.

Defender David Artell is set to return to the Crewe line-up for the clash.

Artell has been consigned to bench duty since returning from a hamstring strain two weeks ago, but after Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Torquay he may replace Carl Martin or Adam Dugdale at the heart of the Alex defence.

Academy striker Max Clayton has recently returned from a hamstring complaint and, after playing for the under-18 side on Saturday, is expected to be named among the substitutes.

Meanwhile fellow forward Nick Powell is pushing for a start alongside midfielder Antoni Sarcevic after both appeared from the bench against Torquay.

“I am considering making changes for the game but not wholesale changes,” boss Dario Gradi told Crewe’s official website. “If we do make changes then we will look at those on the fringes of the team.

“Those who will play will have been in the team before. There will be no untried players going in.”