Crewe Alexandra have suffered a huge injury blow with a star Premier League winger confirmed to be out for 'about six weeks' - according to the boss.

Lachlan Brook sustained an ankle injury during the 2-2 home draw with Northampton Town on Saturday (August 20).

The on-loan Brentford winger had to be substituted in the 56th-minute for Leicester loanee, Thakgalo Leshabela.

Lachlan Brook was substituted in the 56th-minute against Northampton due to a hamstring injury (Kevin Warburton).

At that point in the match, Crewe were 2-1 up - all thanks to a Courtney Baker-Richardson brace.

The Railwaymen held on to their lead until the 97th minute minute - conceding to a painfully late corner from Sam Hoskins.

Crewe Alexandra manager, Alex Morris, was frustrated with the number of forward options now missing from his squad.

Morris told Crewe Alexandra's website: "Things have got a lot worse, because Lachlan Brook is going to be out for about six weeks, so we are down to the bare bones already.

Crewe Alexandra manager, Alex Morris, is frustrated with Crewe's injury crisis (Kevin Warburton).

"Those options at the top end of the pitch have gone from being quite vast to quite bare."

Brook had impressed so far for the Railwaymen, scoring on his debut and starting all five league matches. He will be sorely missed by Morris.

German forward, Bassala Sambou, is currently suspended after being sent off for violent conduct away to Salford City.

The 24-year-old has missed two games already. He will miss this weekend's away trip to Bradford City.

Bassala Sambou misses the clash away to Bradford City this weekend - August 27 (Kevin Warburton).

Morris said: "We haven't got a deep squad; we knew at the start of the season that we'd need to keep players fit.

"When you do lose players to injury it severely restricts how you can influence games from the bench. 

"With the greatest of respect to people like Charlie Finney and Joel Tabiner, who are learning the game and will become great players for us, it's just not right for us to expect them to come on and influence games at this level because they are not there yet."

New midfield signing, Charlie Colkett, is also out with a hamstring injury.

Alex Morris and Lee Bell infuriated by the referee not blowing full-time before Northampton's late equaliser (Kevin Warburton).

The creative playmaker from Cheltenham Town is out for approximately three months following the injury he picked up on his club debut.

Another crucial absentee for the Alex manager is former Everton forward Chris Long.

The 27-year-old was Crewe's star player last team - netting 10 league goals in 32 appearances.

Morris added: "Chris Long is back on the grass but he has lost a lot of weight after being ill.

Alex Morris says the club desperately need Chris Long back (Kevin Warburton).

"We are trying to feed him up so we can have him available again, because we desperately need him."

Crewe Alexandra travel to Valley Parade this Saturday (August 27) - facing off against Bradford City.

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