CREWE Alex head into a busy bank holiday period with yet more injury problems this week.

Centre-back Chris Lightfoot looks set to spend the next few weeks keeping the treatment table warm after straining a hamstring in Saturday's defeat at Bury.

Reserve defenders Steve Foster and new-boy Matthew Wicks will both now be vying for the coveted first-team place for Friday night's clash with Bradford City and Monday's trip to Sheffield United.

Alex boss Dario Gradi hinted former Arsenal reserve Wicks may have the edge for the City game.

"He has the added advantage of having played with Isaiah Rankin, the boy who he'll be marking," he said.

"Lightfoot has caught the hamstring bug. Injuries are like a disease and we have hamstring problems at the moment. But I don't think we are doing anything wrong in training.

"Lee Unsworth hopefully won't be out for a long time, but I still don't know about Danny Hay's work permit. It could come through at any time."

Gradi was thankful the injury crisis hadn't struck key players Seth Johnson and Jermaine Wright, who he said had impressed him so far.

"Seth and Jermaine have been huge successes, particularly Jermaine," he said.

"His improvement has been very encouraging for us after the work we have put in, and for all the other players because if he can do it so can they.

"He has always had talent and we could see that when he came here. We just didn't know how to use it. Now I think we have found the right role for him."

Friday's battle with the Bantams sees the return of Crewe old boys Gareth Whalley and Ashley Westwood.

Gradi said the club held no grudges against either player.

"Whalley has had a super career here and I still think the fans will welcome him back warmly and so will we," he said.

"They have both done quite well for us and they both got promotion with us, so it should be a great experience for them."

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