Lowe blow for Crewe ahead of Carlisle visit
Crewe will be without leading scorer Ryan Lowe for the visit of title hopefuls Carlisle.
The eight-goal striker suffered a hamstring injury in the defeat at Cambridge and will miss out on Boxing Day, although it is hoped the 38-year-old will have recovered in time for the home game against Accrington on New Year's Eve.
Further bad injury news for Crewe this week saw Ben Nugent suffer a fractured cheekbone while playing for the Under-23 side and the defender will be unavailable for a while, although it is not yet known for how long.
Fellow defender George Ray is nearing a return from the groin injury that has kept him out in recent weeks.
Carlisle are in discussions with Newcastle about extending Macaulay Gillesphey's stay.
The defender, who also had a spell with the Cumbrians last season, is on loan for the first half of this campaign - currently until January 2.
Midfielder Joe McKee is a doubt with a hamstring injury while Mike Jones and Danny Grainger will also be assessed after sustaining knocks that ruled them out of Saturday's win over Yeovil.
Forweard Jabo Ibehre returned from a back problem at the weekend for Carlisle's seventh straight league home victory.
Source: PAR
