24/07/2008 - Replacing Livermore a problem, claims Baker
CREWE Alex fear they will struggle to replace Tottenham loan midfielder Jake Livermore after he was ruled out for at least three months with a broken leg.
The 18-year-old has returned to his parent club after suffering a hairline fracture to his fibula in Tuesday’s 0-0 pre-season friendly draw at Wrexham.
Livermore only joined Crewe on a six-month loan deal last month, and impressed in training and pre-season games.
Assistant boss Neil Baker said: “We feel sorry for the boy. The most important thing is that he gets himself right and recovers as soon as possible. He’s certainly young and fit enough to get over it and come back.
“For Crewe, it also affects what we were going to do in the season ahead.
“We were excited about him because he's a different type of midfield player to what we have here already. He gets his foot in, but he also uses the ball well.
“I’m not sure we’ll be able to get another one like him, so we’ll miss him.
“We’re not short of midfielders though, and it offers a lifeline to players like Steven Schumacher, James Bailey and Ben Rix. It’s up to them to show us what they can do.”
Schumacher will have to wait for his chance after being ruled out of Saturday’s pre-season friendly at home to Premier League Hull with a foot injury.
Ahead of the match, Crewe are understood to be ready to move again for Leeds United striker Anthony Elding.
The on-off saga has rumbled on after Elding initially decided against a move to Gresty Road when the clubs agreed a fee.
But Elding, who was left out of Leeds’ pre-season tour to Ireland, is now thought to be keen to resurrect the deal and the Alex are homing in on the
26-year-old striker.
Meanwhile, Crewe have given a trial to French defender Stephane Zubar.
The 21-year-old centre-back, who plays for French Ligue 1 club Caen, is training with the club this week.
Zubar, who hasn’t yet featured for Caen, has had loan spells at FC Brussels and Pau.
AN experimental Crewe line-up lost 4-1 to Manchester City’s reserves yesterday. Byron Moore was on target at City’s Carrington training complex.