Tranmere vs Crewe preview
Thursday 7 March 2019 17:07, UK
Skipper Steve McNulty is nearing a return ahead of Tranmere's home game against Crewe on Friday night.
McNulty has not played since the end of January because of an Achilles problem, but the veteran defender may bolster a Rovers squad that moved into the play-off positions with a third successive win at Exeter last weekend.
Liam Ridehalgh and Kieron Morris will also be assessed ahead of the Sky Bet League Two game after missing recent games through injury. Veteran striker Ishmael Miller has headed to St George's Park to step up his rehabilitation after having surgery on a hamstring injury.
Crewe's defensive problems are set to ease after back-to-back home losses against Exeter and Northampton. Nicky Hunt, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair and Harry Pickering all missed the 2-0 defeat to the Cobblers last weekend.
But Crewe boss David Artell is hoping the trio will be able to compete for places, allowing the on-loan Jamie Sterry to revert to his customary right-back position. James Jones (ankle) is also on course to return to the squad for the first time since the middle of January after completing 70 minutes for the Alex's Under-23s at Millwall on Tuesday.
Opta stats
Tranmere are unbeaten in their last six home league games against Crewe, winning five of those meetings (D1).
Crewe are looking to record a league double over Tranmere for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign, when both sides were in the second tier.
Tranmere are currently enjoying a run of three consecutive league victories; they haven't won four in a row in the Football League since January 2013 in League One - a run which included a 2-1 home win over Crewe.
Crewe haven't lost any of their last four away league outings, last avoiding defeat in five straight away league matches back in April 2014
League Two top scorer James Norwood (23 goals) has netted six of Tranmere's last eight league goals.
