Crewe Alexandra Football Club News

• Nickname:The Railwaymen
• Founded:1877
• Manager:Steve Davis

• Ground:The Alexandra Stadium
• Capacity:10,018

Gradi fears for Maynard

07 Nov 2006 - 15:22:02

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Crewe Alexandra manager Dario Gradi hopes that the hamstring injury Nicky Maynard sustained in Saturday's derby win against Port Vale is not as bad as was first feared.

The 19-year-old striker has been in fine form this season but Gradi thinks his long run of hard games has contributed to the injury.

"We could certainly do without Nicky's injury but I think it was nature taking its own course," Gradi told Alex's official website.

"I've been thinking all season that the likes of Gary Roberts, Michael O'Connor and Nicky couldn't carry on playing in every game this season.

"Nicky pulled up towards the end of the game, which suggests that it was because of fatigue rather than anything else. He pulled up very sharply and stopped dead. We're just hoping it isn't as bad as it looked on Saturday.

"He's torn his hamstring but we're hoping it's not a really severe tear, which would see him back in the fold a lot sooner than we first feared."