Bolton Wanderers defender Marlon Fossey has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a torn meniscus.
Wanderers make the short journey to Cheshire tomorrow to take on League One's bottom club.
Both teams are seeking to return to winning ways after Wanderers suffered defeat at the hands of Plymouth Argyle last weekend, while the Railwaymen lost to Wigan Athletic in midweek.
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Crewe are eight points from safety and appear destined to be in League Two next season, while Wanderers are 11th in the table and 11 points from the top six with slim play-off hopes.
Wanderers have eight games left of their season and Ian Evatt has given a team news update ahead of the the clash against the Alex.
But Bolton will be without Fulham loanee Fossey after the wing-back limped off towards the end of last weekend's loss to Plymouth Argyle.
The defender will go under the knife tomorrow, which will cut short his involvement on the pitch at Wanderers this season, which is a big blow for both the player and Bolton.
Evatt said: “It’s not great news. He’s got a torn meniscus so he’ll be having surgery tomorrow and that will be him for the rest of the season.
“There's major disappointment from both parties, I think. He’s done exceptionally well since he’s been here. The crowd have really bought into him and vice-versa.
"He loves it here, but these things happen. There’s nothing we can do about it. It could have been a lot worse than just his meniscus, so it’s a pretty straightforward injury and operation but long enough to keep him out as there’s only six weeks left now so long enough to keep him out for the remainder of the season.
“I think he’s OK, he is obviously really disappointed. He has been exceptional since he has been here.
“Every time we sign a player we give them a vision of what we think will happen and both parties have lived up to the bargain. It is how it should be.
“He chose us over Inter Miami and I think he will now accept that it was the right decision, which is great.
“Obviously he is disappointed with the injury because I still think there is a lot of improvement in him and he is learning all the time.
“He has put in a huge amount of effort, physically, to come out of Under-23s football and play the men’s game from January onwards. That is a huge effort.
“He has managed his body well and I have never seen a lad of his age be so professional, he is ultra-professional, first in the gym every morning and the last to leave. He does all his prehab and cooldown stuff, he is relentless, and gives himself the best possible opportunity every day.
“Hopefully he will recover really quickly. It is not a serious injury but it is enough to warrant an operation and keep him out."
Wanderers will have Kyle Dempsey and Lloyd Isgrove back available for the clash against the Railwaymen while Gethin Jones will return to the club on Monday after being on compassionate leave after the death of his mother Karen.
Midfielders Kieran Lee and Andrew Tutte remain out of action.
Evarr added: “Gethin will be back on Monday. It’s been a very challenging time for him and his family and there’s been no pressure put on him whatsoever and I’ve been in constant dialogue with him and he feels right and ready to come back on Monday.
"Obviously then we’ve got a two-week break to get everyone back available. Lloyd Isgrove’s back available, Kacha (Elias Kachunga) is back available, so for the one that’s missing, we’ve got a few returning as well which is good.”
