DAVE Artell has highlighted Olly Lancashire's contribution to the cause as he bolsters Crewe's defensive ranks with skipper Perry Ng set to start a six-game ban.

Ng's suspension has been imposed by the FA after he admitted "spitting" at Cheltenham coach Wade Elliott at the final whistle of the FA Cup second round clash at Cheltenham last Saturday.

The full-back will miss all of Crewe's December fixture list, apart from the Papa John's Trophy trip to Hull next Tuesday.

Crewe have already worked with a depleted the rearguard line in recent weeks with injuries ruling out Donervon Daniels and Omar Beckles.

Boss Artell has brought Billy Sass-Davies back from a successful stint with National League Altrincham, while he has been grateful for Lancashire's contribution.

The former Rochdale and Shrewsbury defender's first season at the club was marred by injury and he had only featured in cup games before replacing Beckles in the defeat at Portsmouth on November 21.

But he has gone on to forge a strong partnership with youngster Luke Offord in the heart of defence.

Artell was prepared to let Lancashire, 31, along with out-of-favour fellow defender Eddie Nolan, find new clubs before the transfer window closed.

But he said: "Olly is a good professional who trains hard and when he is called upon he invariably does well. He's had one or two more injuries for his own liking, but when he has come in he has done well."

"It's not the same 11 every week and it is the ones behind them that matter too. Olly has been one of those whose been in the team and then not. But over the last few weeks he has been playing really well."

Daniels could be sidelined for up to three months with a hamstring tear, while Beckles returned to the bench in Tuesday night's win over Swindon.

But the recall of Sass-Davies, along with midfielder Joe Robbins, from the National League frontrunners, will prove useful back-up.

Sass-Davies started all three of Crewe's opening cup games, scoring against Lincoln in the Caraboa Cup, and his form in the cut and thrust of the fifth tier where Alty have surprisingly risen to fourth in the table, has been noted by his boss.

Artell explained: "We couldn't bring them back until after 28 days. We didn't have the injuries we've got now when they went out on loan. But they've done ever so well with a part-time team, and while I'm not saying it's all down to them, but as soon as we could we've called them back as we need them going forward."

Ng's ban is a blow as the controversy appeared to have passed over after Cheltenham's management team alleged he spat at one of their staff. The incident was not seen by match officials, although video footage showed the Alex captain clearing his mouth of swigs of a water bottle.

The defender did launch a protest over the length of his ban claiming it was "excessive" after admitting a breach of FA rules in that his behaviour "constituted spitting at an opponent or any other person".

Crewe say despite that an Independent regulatory Commission ordered that the suspension was applied with immediate effect during a subsequent hearing.

Meanwhile, after Tuesday's enthralling 4-2 comeback win Crewe travel to Burton Albion tomorrow (K.O 3pm) where a reunion awaits Luke Murphy.

The midfielder featured over 60 times for the Brewers while out on loan from Leeds during 2017 and 2108 and he has fond memories of his time at the Pirelli Stadium.

"It was a great 15-month spell for me. Burton is a club that is closest to what I remember Crewe being like when I was a young player. It was a real family club with a manager at the time (Nigel Clough) who I loved to bits," said Murphy.

"There are a few familiar faces like John Brayford and Luke Varney, who I seem to follow everywhere. It'll be nice going back."