Town manager Joe Royle's main worry ahead of Saturday's away clash at Crewe Alexandra is central defender Drissa Diallo. However, better news is that skipper Jim Magilton and Marcus Bent are both OK for the trip to Gresty Road.

Bent had been suffering with a heel problem and Magilton picked up an ankle knock which saw them both replaced against Kidderminster on Wednesday. Royle felt that Magilton could have carried on against the Harriers but was taken off as a precaution.

John McGreal is still at least a month away from first team action while Matt Bloomfield, or ‘Lucky' as Royle refers to him, is back on crutches after a further set-back.

Former Burnley man Diallo has been impressive in both Town's games so far and would be a big loss to the Town backline. Royle says that the Guinean failed to train on Friday: “Our one doubt at the moment is Drissa Diallo who has a shoulder injury. He didn't do any training today, and it's a bit sore but we're hoping that he'll come though. But if the game was today he'd be struggling.

“He's already become an important player and a lot of people are asking how he arrived on a free. It's because he was unknown and we were fortunate to see him in his first game against us and we kept tabs on him.

“He's a gentleman, he's an ultra professional, one of the first in and last out every morning, and the players have learnt pretty quickly not to go near him in training.

The Town manager also had praise for his new keeper: “Kelvin has a lovely calm assurance about him, he's a good talker and communicator, and a terrific kicker. He's had very little to do in the two games he's played but he's made an important save in both. If we carry on conceding one goal every two games I'll be delighted.”

Up front Royle has a multitude of options with Dean Bowditch pressing his claim with the winner on Wednesday: “We've got a lot of choices for the striking positions. If you look at Darren Bent he could have broken the League Cup scoring record the other night which I think was set when I was at Oldham by Frank Bunn. Darren could have had more than five and on another day he will do because he's an excellent finisher.

“Marcus and Pablo at the moment aren't quite firing but we know that the quality that they have and then there's the young man there, Dean Bowditch, just reminding them not to forget him.”

Royle says he would consider playing Bowditch up front alongside Darren Bent in an all-teenage strike-force if the situation dictated that they were his best option: “It's a matter of when the time is right, whether it is Saturday or another time. Bowditch is still growing, he's grown a couple of inches in the summer.

“At the moment I still have a feeling that his best job for us will be coming on as a sub and livening things up.”

Crewe have a reputation for playing good football and over the years Royle has been a fan of the Railwaymen and particularly boss Dario Gradi: “They'll pass it everywhere they can. Dario's done a marvellous job there, not only producing football teams but producing individual players who have gone on to grace the game. I've nothing but admiration for him.

“He's everything there, he's director, manager, coach and scout. When I was working in the north I'd rarely go to a game without seeing him. All credit to them, they've found their niche. They'd love to play Premier but they know it would be hard for them.”

The Blues' boss expects to be given a decent match: “It's not an easy game. We've seen already with the first day results in this division, it's going to take a while to settle down. I can't see another run like Portsmouth's at the moment.”

Royle says there are no developments regarding moves for either Andy Marshall or Alun Armstrong and was scathing about a report on a Newcastle website yesterday which claimed that Darren Bent was in talks with the Magpies: “I don't know where that stuff came from. Not even 1% of 1% true.”

For Crewe promising young striker Dean Ashton has recovered from a hamstring injury, however midfielder Neil Sorvel has an ankle problem and defender Richard Walker has knee injury and both miss out.

Gradi has added former Watford striker Allan Smart to his squad. The Crewe boss says it'll be a few games before he has gauged how his side is coping with promotion to Division One: "It will take a few matches to assess how we are, but I believe we have enough ability around the club to cope with the higher standard."

Saturday's referee is Roy Pearson of Peterlee.

Photo: Action Images

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