Crawley Town V Crewe at Broadfield Stadium - Match Preview




Simpson hopeful of return

Crawley skipper Josh Simpson hopes to return for the visit of Crewe.

The six-goal midfielder has been sidelined for a month after suffering ankle ligament damage during the 1-1 draw against Doncaster.

Simpson has stepped up his training this week and could be back in the squad, but Town will be without two players due to international call-ups.

Defender Joe Walsh has been named in the Wales Under-21 squad for their European Championship game against Moldova, and on-loan Millwall striker Aiden O'Brien is with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s for a friendly against Portugal.

Centre-half Kyle McFadzean will also miss out again as he continues to build up his fitness following the virus which struck him down in November.

Crewe are expecting captain Luke Murphy to be fit.

The midfielder left the field soon after half-time during Tuesday night's 2-1 home win against MK Dons with a groin problem but manager Steve Davis has confirmed the injury is not as serious as first expected.

In-form Mathias Pogba will definitely be absent as he joins up with the Guinea squad but Byron Moore could recover from his dead leg in time to play.

Michael West is pushing for promotion from the bench after returning to full fitness following a long-term hip injury, while Max Clayton is back from England Under-19 duty.

Loanee Brad Inman will not feature as he is with parent club Newcastle receiving treatment for an ankle problem and defender Jon Guthrie (hernia) is also ruled out.

The Railwaymen still harbour hopes of making the npower League One play-off places and could move to within six points of the top six with a win.

Source: PA

Source: PA