Crewe Alexandra have no fresh injury concerns after Tuesday night's fixture, but the club must make a careful decision regarding Joel Tabiner's involvement in Saturday's match against York City at 3pm. Assistant Manager Ryan Dicker outlined the situation on Thursday.
Tabiner missed the entirety of last season recovering from ACL surgery but has made a strong start to the 2026/27 campaign, already registering two key assists. The question now centres on whether the young midfielder should start three games in a week.
Tabiner's recovery and workload management
Dicker said the club must be "mindful of Joel" and make "a sensible decision" about his playing load. He praised Tabiner's commitment during rehabilitation: "How he applied himself off the pitch during that rehab time is an absolute credit – he worked his socks off and is only going to get stronger and stronger."
Tabiner is keen to play but will undergo assessment work to determine his readiness. "He's fine in himself and he'll be wanting to play, but we have to make a sensible decision. He'll do some work to assess that," Dicker added.
Thomas and Lunt updates
Midfielder Conor Thomas is back in contention after missing the midweek draw with Walsall. Thomas will complete a light session and, if he comes through it successfully, will join the full team session on Friday and be available for selection against York City.
Defender Owen Lunt is progressing but will not feature this Saturday. He will train with the squad on Thursday but is expected to return for the Colchester fixture.
