Michael O'Connor and Joel Grant could return to contention for Crewe as Colchester give fitness checks to three.
Duo may be back in frame
Midfielders Michael O'Connor and Joel Grant could return to contention for Crewe as Colchester give late fitness checks to three players.
The duo missed the 5-2 defeat at Leeds as O'Connor was on international duty with Northern Ireland while Grant was nursing a hamstring injury.
Grant suffered the problem in the defeat at Hereford at the end of last month but has resumed training and is on the brink of returning.
"Michael has been training fine with Northern Ireland. He will be back with us on Friday morning and if he trains he will be considered," said Crewe first-team coach Steve Holland.
"It will also be good to have Joel back. He is now running and making progress and we hope he will be fit enough to face Colchester.
"It would be nice to have those two available again because we were outplayed in midfield on Saturday (at Leeds)."
The game comes too soon for Chris McCready (hamstring) despite the defender's return to training.
Colchester news
Colchester's Steven Gillespie, Paul Reid and Matt Lockwood face late fitness tests ahead of the trip.
Striker Gillespie, the Us' £400,000 record signing, is edging closer to fitness after three weeks out with a hamstring injury.
Reid has missed the last two games with a groin injury and fellow defender Lockwood is still struggling with tendinitis.
Captain Chris Coyne played 90 minutes for Australia in their World Cup qualifier in Uzbekistan on Wednesday night and will be assessed when he arrives back in Essex.
Centre-half Pat Baldwin played for the reserves in midweek following six months out with a shoulder injury and could provide another option at the back.
Dean Gerken, Mark Yeates, Kem Izzet and Clive Platt should return to the starting line-up after being rested for Colchester's last outing in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
