Latest team news and a special day for Marlon

Last updated : 22 February 2002 By Tony Scholes

Marlon saves Gayle's penalty at Watford
Definitely out are Tony Grant who for the second week in succession came off at half time with a hamstring problem and Arthur Gnohere who is serving a one match suspension.

The club have said this week that Grant is now likely to be out for about five weeks with this injury that he first picked up at Barnsley two weeks ago. He then missed the draw at Rotherham before lining up against Forest. Again he lasted only 45 minutes and now is set to miss a number of games.

We will be without Arthur tomorrow for the first time since the 2-2 draw at Gillingham at the end of October where he was left out after the defeat at Wolves. He picked up his fifth yellow card at Watford and this was his third card in four games having been booked in the home game against Sheffield Wednesday and then at Cheltenham in the FA Cup tie. His previous yellow cards were a totally unjust one at home to Manchester City and then at home to Millwall.

Other than that there is good news with Robbie Blake, Andy Payton and Mitchell Thomas all coming through the game against Bolton on Wednesday. I think Blake could be on the bench again and with Arthur out I wouldn't be surprised to see Mitchell claim one of the five subs places.

Steve Davis has been training this week with the rest of the squad but he was not considered for the Bolton friendly and having not played since October it would be very surprising should he feature tomorrow.

I suspect we will return to a 4-4-2 formation and I think the team will be something like: Marlon Beresford, Dean West, Ian Cox, Gordon Armstrong, Lee Briscoe, Glen Little, Paul Weller, Kevin Ball, Alan Moore, Ian Moore, Gareth Taylor. There are a number of other options as Kevin Ball could move in to the centre of defence alongside Coxy allowing Paul Cook to come back into the starting line up or we could start with Robbie Blake. Otherwise Cook and Blake will start on the bench probably alongside Mitchell Thomas, Graham Branch and Brad Maylett.

It will be a special day for Marlon Beresford who will be making his 300th league and cup appearance for the Clarets in his two spells with the club.

Crewe seem to have the biggest problem in goal. Keeper Ademola Bankole was dropped after a woeful performance in the 6-1 defeat at home to Coventry and his place has since been taken by Clayton Ince. However Ince himself was badly at fault as Wolves turned the game on its head on Wednesday with three goals in seven minutes after Crewe had dominated.

Other than that Crewe look set to have a full squad to choose from although there is some doubt over former England man Geoff Thomas who has been out since the FA Cup 4th round win at Rotherham at the end of January.

Manager Dario Gradi has picked out his key man as Dave Walton who will be tasked with trying to stop the player Gradi thinks can do the most damage, Gareth Taylor. The Crewe boss seems to have given up hope of beating Gareth in the air and is more concerned about making sure they pick up the ball from the knock downs.

Walton is expected to line up in an unchanged side that is: Clayton Ince, David Wright, Shaun Smith, Dave Walton, Efetobore Sodje, Kenny Lunt, Dave Brammer, Neil Sorvel, Ben Rix, Rob Hulse, Dean Ashton. Subs not used: Ademola Bankole, Stephen Foster, Wayne Collins, Rodney Jack, Paul Tait.