Crewe v Doncaster preview

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Goalkeeper Steve Phillips is a major doubt as Crewe prepare to host the League One leaders.

Phillips suffered a dead leg during the first half of Wednesday night’s 2-0 defeat at Brentford and was replaced by Alan Martin, who is ready to deputise once more.

Skipper Luke Murphy came off after an hour against the Bees as he continues to nurse the after-effects of a groin injury and will be assessed ahead of kick-off, along with full-back Kelvin Mellor (toe).

Murphy’s central midfield partner Abdul Osman must begin a two-match suspension having collected 10 bookings this season.

Chuks Aneke returned to the bench having started last weekend’s 2-0 triumph over Southend at Wembley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final and the on-loan Arsenal attacking midfielder will push for a place in the first XI once more.

Defender Adam Dugdale remains absent on compassionate leave, while top scorer Mathias Pogba (thigh) is out for the remainder of the campaign.

Doncaster have problems at right-back as they face Johnstone’s Paint Trophy winners Crewe.

Andy Griffin is nursing a sore lower back and upper thigh following the 2-0 home defeat to Carlisle on Tuesday night and is rated at 50/50 to make this game.

And with Paul Quinn unlikely to play again this season due to injury, Rovers boss Brian Flynn could be forced to field a makeshift full-back against the Alex.

Left-back James Husband, centre-half Liam Wakefield and winger James Coppinger are options for Flynn should Griffin miss out.

It would be a first change to the starting line-up in four matches.

Dave Syers is still struggling with an ankle injury but he will be checked, while fellow midfielders Martin Woods (calf) and Paul Keegan (thigh) may not recover in time to feature again this term.

Crewe v Doncaster preview

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Crewe manager Steve Davis is set to shuffle his pack against Rovers in the JPT.

Davis, who was disappointed with Alex’s efforts in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Burton, is aware of the strain the hectic festive schedule could bring.

“With Christmas and new year coming up, I am mindful of the fact that we do have a lot of fixtures coming up in the short space of time,” he told the Railwaymen’s official website. “I may use this opportunity to freshen things up and give one or two a game.”

Veteran goalkeeper Steve Phillips could be handed a first start of the season. The 34-year-old has served as understudy to Alan Martin since his recovery from knee surgery over the summer.

On-loan Newcastle midfielder Brad Inman is pushing for a debut, while centre-back Adam Dugdale may earn a starting berth for the first time since August’s 5-1 npower League One defeat at Brentford.

Captain Luke Murphy and Kelvin Mellor are still doubts with respective groin and knee problems, while forward Ajay Leitch-Smith (ankle) remains sidelined.

For Doncaster, David Cotterill and Iain Hume are available after suspension.

However, Paul Keegan is banned for the tie.

Winger Cotterill and on-loan striker Hume both served an enforced one-match absence as Rovers were knocked out of the FA Cup at Oldham on Saturday.

Cotterill collected his fifth yellow card of the season during the league victory over the Latics five days previously while Hume was sent off for two bookable offences in the same game.

They both come back into contention, but manager Dean Saunders loses Keegan on Tuesday night after the midfielder received his fifth yellow card of the campaign in injury-time at Boundary Park.

Midfielder Martin Woods is likely to remain out with the thigh injury he sustained in the league game against Oldham but Saunders hopes that striker Billy Paynter can return to the squad after a hamstring problem.

Kyle Bennett is closing in on a return to action after a knee injury but the winger is not yet ready.