Crewe v Leyton Orient preview

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Anthony Grant will complete his two-game suspension when Crewe welcome Leyton Orient for a clash between two strugglers in Sky Bet League One.

The midfielder picked up his 10th caution of the season in the 0-0 draw with Crawley last week and was therefore absent for the 1-0 loss to Chesterfield on Monday, which saw the Railwaymen drop into the bottom four.

Defender Matt Tootle (ankle) played for the Under-21s on Thursday and is hopeful of featuring before the end of the season so could be considered while Ryan Colclough now has three substitute appearances following his long-standing hernia issue.

Liam Nolan (ankle) was back on the bench against Chesterfield and goalkeeper Ben Garratt (broken leg) aims to return to the field before the campaign is out too.

Orient’s injury problems have cleared up with Adam Legzdins and Romain Vincelot the only absentees.

Legzdins remains sidelined by a shoulder injury so Burnley loanee Alex Cisak continues in goal, while Vincelot is out for the season with a knee problem.

Fellow midfielder Lloyd James made his first start since breaking his leg in August in the 3-3 draw with Gillingham on Monday.

Winger Dean Cox (hamstring) and striker David Mooney (rib) shook off knocks to face the Gills and should be involved again.

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Crewe v Leyton Orient preview

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Teenager Uche Ikpeazu may make his Crewe bow when they entertain high-fliers Leyton Orient at Gresty Road.

The 18-year-old joined the Alex on loan for the rest of the season this week, ensuring boss Steve Davis got his number-one January target up front.

Ollie Turton could also come into Davis’ thinking having returned to full training following a knee problem while fellow defender Adam Dugdale, still yet to feature following a head injury before Christmas, is considered fine.

Full-back Gregor Robertson left the Railwaymen on Thursday, midfielder Ryan Colclough this week had an operation to try and solve a stomach problem and forward Max Clayton is still some way off a return because of an ankle injury.

Chris Dagnall will be added to the Leyton Orient squad for the trip to Crewe.

The striker on Thursday signed an 18-month contract with the O’s after leaving Barnsley last week.

Romain Vincelot is fit after missing three matches with a knee injury and could replace fellow midfielder Marvin Bartley, who has been struggling with a back injury recently and lasted only half an hour of last weekend’s 4-0 win over Carlisle.

Goalkeeper Jamie Jones (back) and strikers David Mooney (foot) and Shaun Batt (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.

Crewe v Leyton Orient preview

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Crewe have no new injury problems for the League One visit of Leyton Orient.

On-loan Arsenal midfielder Chuks Aneke serves the second game of a three-match suspension following his red card in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Stevenage.

Either side of that contest, the Railwaymen drew 0-0 with Tranmere and Carlisle to move to four league games unbeaten since last month’s 5-1 thrashing at Brentford.

Michael West (Achilles) remains sidelined along with fellow forward Mathias Pogba and veteran goalkeeper Steve Phillips (both knee).

Boss Steve Davis told Alex’s official website: “At the moment with the injuries we have and the suspension to Chuks Aneke we cannot afford to have any more or we would be short.

“It is always a tough, long season and squad size does matter. You need quality and a little bit luck as well.”

Martin Rowlands should return to the Leyton Orient squad.

The former QPR midfielder missed Tuesday night’s 4-1 win over Yeovil through illness.

Rowlands’ current month-long contract comes to an end after Saturday’s match but manager Russell Slade hopes to keep the 33-year-old for longer.

Striker Michael Symes is a doubt after he was forced to miss out in midweek due to a hamstring problem.

Full-back Lloyd James is still struggling with an ankle injury and is likely to sit out again, while centre-half Scott Cuthbert (hamstring) and goalkeeper Jamie Jones (shoulder) are a few weeks from returning to action.

Slade is unlikely to make many changes with his side on a three-match winning run.