Crewe v Swindon preview

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Paul Rachubka looks set to start in goal for Crewe against Swindon following the bad news on Ben Garratt.

The Alex discovered last week that keeper Garratt has fractured his leg and could be out for up to two months so Rachubka, who scored an own goal on his debut when coming on against Barnsley last weekend, is in line to fill in.

Striker Lauri Dalla Valle faces a late fitness test on the hip problem which forced him to come off against Doncaster while Jon Guthrie and Chris Atkinson (both knee) played 90 minutes in a Cheshire Senior Cup game in midweek to stake their claims for returns.

Defender Matt Tootle (ankle) and young forward Ryan Colclough (hernia) are still a little further off, though.

Swindon will make a decision on whether to include star striker Andy Williams in the starting line-up.

The forward, who is closing in on his 20th League One goal of a memorable campaign, suffered a bang to the head in their midweek win over Bradford and also became a father for the first time and boss Mark Cooper says he will chat to Williams before naming his line-up.

Cooper has no other injury or suspension worries as they look to build on that impressive victory against the Bantams.

And he could name an unchanged line-up at Gresty Road.

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Crewe v Swindon preview

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Crewe boss Steve Davis will hope his lengthy injury list clears a little in time for Swindon’s visit to Gresty Road.

The Alex were able to name just five substitutes against Stevenage in midweek and midfielder Anthony Grant played on with a knock while on-loan goalkeeper Neil Etheridge tweaked his thigh again.

Midfield pair Abdul Osman and George Evans were both absent because of foot problems while forward Uche Ikpeazu continues to miss out with an ankle injury.

Davis is hopeful on defensive duo George Ray (ankle) and Ollie Turton (knee) but teenage forwards Ryan Colclough (stomach) and Max Clayton (ankle) will not be back until the end of March at the earliest.

Goalkeeper Tyrell Belford will get another chance to impress when Swindon travel to Crewe.

The youngster made his home League One debut on Tuesday night in the 1-1 draw with Crawley just hours after number one keeper Wes Foderingham discovered his groin problem will sideline him for between two and three weeks.

Australian midfielder Massimo Luongo and former Tottenham defender Troy Archibald-Henville were rested for the midweek draw and the pair could return to action against the Railwaymen.

Ryan Mason (ankle), Nile Ranger (hamstring), Grant Hall (calf) and Alex Pritchard (medial ligament strain) remain sidelined for Mark Cooper’s men.

Crewe v Swindon preview

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Crewe forward Max Clayton is rated as 50/50 for Swindon’s visit.

Teenage striker Clayton has suffered a slight groin strain and boss Steve Davis is considering taking him out of the firing line against the Robins.

Davis’ attacking options were boosted at the weekend when Michael West made his long-awaited Alex debut from the bench against Walsall after a lengthy period on the sidelines with an Achilles injury.

Chuks Aneke, who was on Monday granted clearance to feature in the Railwaymen’s FA Cup first-round tie with Wycombe by parent club Arsenal, is pushing for a start after coming off the bench to bag a late equaliser at the Banks’s Stadium.

Fellow loanee Andy Bond (groin) could miss out alongside Ajay Leitch-Smith (ankle) and Ryan Colclough (broken jaw).

Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio will be without the services of a number of players.

Nathan Thompson picked up a knock during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe and will miss the match at Gresty Road while fellow defender Fede Bessone’s injury is being assessed.

Aden Flint will serve a one-game suspension after seeing red on Saturday so Troy Archibald-Henville could deputise in defence.

Andy Williams’ Achilles injury rules the former Yeovil man out of this fixture as the Robins look to extend their unbeaten run to four games.

Alan Navarro is still on the sidelines with a medial ligament injury.

Crewe v Swindon preview

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Crewe will be without defender Carl Martin once more.

A thigh injury ruled Martin out of last weekend’s dramatic 4-3 win over Gillingham and the clash with Paolo Di Canio’s side comes too soon for him.

On-loan defender James Tunnicliffe has returned to Wycombe following shoulder surgery, leaving Martin as boss Steve Davis’ only remaining injury concern.

Midfielder Lee Bell has recovered from a bout of illness and is set to feature in a game where Davis insists his side will show attacking intent as they chase a play-off spot.

“We’re going to approach the game like we did on Saturday in terms of how we attack them,” he said. “We’re not going to be frightened of what they throw at us.

“We’ll match equally what they do against us because that’s what we’ve got to do. It’s no good trying to get a draw. We’ve got to set ourselves up to have a good go at them and that’s what we’ll do.”

Meanwhile, Runaway League Two leaders Swindon are set to hand a debut to Lee Holmes against Crewe following his loan move from Southampton.

The 24-year-old winger, who enjoyed a previous loan spell at the County Ground seven seasons ago, will be keen to make an impression as Paolo Di Canio’s side look to extend the seven-point gap they hold at the top of the table.

The Robins will continue to be without their captain Paul Caddis as the right-back is yet to recover from his ankle injury.

However, the Scot remains hopeful of leading his team out for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at Wembley against Chesterfield later this month.

Aden Flint could return to the defence as his groin problem is easing.