Crewe first-team coach Steve Holland welcomes back Dean Morgan for the visit of play-off hopefuls Southend to Gresty Road.Morgan, on loan from Luton, was ineligible to face his parent club last week but comes back into contention to face the Shrimpers.

Tom Pope is certain to miss the clash with a broken toe but the Railwaymen hope the striker will be back for the last couple of weeks of the season.

Long-term absentee Billy Jones (knee) has returned to training but the game is expected to come too soon for him.

Another player closing in on a return is Neil Cox, who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury, and the former Watford man could make a return to action in two weeks.

Reserve-team goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson is likely to be sidelined for seven months after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury and Ben Rix (hip) is still out.

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