Crow proves his fitness to force his way back into the reckoning

The 25-year-old forward has recovered quickly from his knee medial ligament injury and has done enough to give himself the chance of featuring at Eastlands.

Speaking at this afternoon’s press conference, manager Gary Brabin said: “People who have been injured have stepped up their training so we’ve got a few additional players in the squad which is always a bonus.

“Danny Crow has stepped up his training and every day he has been getting stronger and stronger and is in full training now.

“He is in our thoughts and in the squad I will be choosing from and involved on Saturday.”

However, the likes of defenders Shane Blackett and Freddie Murray and attackers Charlie Henry and Amari Morgan-Smith are still out, with Brabin saying on the latter: “Amari at the moment is not training.”

But he was tightlipped on the personnel and system he would choose for the massively important encounter.

Brabin said: “I’ve changed personnel and system and have a few options which we can play and the lads are more than confident each game no matter which system we play.

“We will have to see on the day which team and formation we put out.

“I’ve got no favourites, it’s what they do day-in day-out.”

He also had words of praise for defender Ed Asafu-Adjaye who has forced his way back into the team in recent weeks following a loan spell at Histon.

Brabin continued: “Ed is certainly one of the ones that’s thrived on that and come to forefront and has been given a starting place and taken it with both hands.”

The game will also see two of the best keepers in the league in action with Town’s Mark Tyler going head to head with Seb Brown.

Brabin said: “We are lucky enough to have two fantastic goalkeepers in Mark Tyler and Kevin Pilkington.”

And the former U’s manager admitted that there will be some disappointed players who miss out on the starting XI and who aren’t included on the bench.

But he believes anyone who is left out will be professional enough to cope.

He added: “It’s a decision which I have to make which is tough.

“I had Danny Crow who I left on the bench two years ago and he still likes and respects me.

“It’s tough but one of the things I’ve tried to instil is 100 per cent professionalism.

“Whatever doesn’t kill them will make them stronger.”