Zubar blow for Bury
Bury will once again be without Stephane Zubar when they host Crawley in npower League One amid fears the on-loan centre-back could be out for the season.
Zubar has returned to parent-club Bournemouth for treatment on a knee injury he sustained during last week's 4-1 loss at Notts County and Shakers boss Kevin Blackwell believes the prognosis is not good.
"If we get him back at any point this season, it will be a bonus," he said. "We don't know the full extent of the injury yet and probably won't until next week, but we think he is out for the season."
Blackwell could opt to recall Efe Sodje or Mark Hughes from their respective loan spells at Barrow and Accrington in the coming weeks but offered praise for Ashley Eastham and Ethan Ebanks-Landell, both of whom recovered from a torrid time at Meadow Lane to star at the heart of defence in Tuesday's shock 1-0 win over Swindon.
"The two young centre-backs were awesome," he told the Bury Times. "For the mistakes they made at Notts County, they thoroughly redeemed themselves."
Long-term absentees Phil Picken (knee), Adam Lockwood (knee) and Shane Byrne (blood disorder) remain sidelined.
Crawley will be without Mark Connolly when they head to manager Richie Barker's former club.
Defender Connolly serves a one-match ban after he was sent off in the first minute of Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat by Brentford.
Connor Essam, the January signing from Gillingham, came on at centre-half to replace Connolly for his debut and is now in line for his first start.
The Red Devils have received some positive injury news with winger Sergio Torres due to return after a rib injury ruled him out in midweek.
And top scorer Billy Clarke will be available despite being withdrawn at half-time as a precaution after feeling his hamstring.
Defender Kyle McFadzean is back in training after a virus but will not be risked yet.
Source: PA
