CREWE have suffered a defensive blow after transfer window loan signing Billy Jones returned to Rotherham to recover from a serious knee injury.

Alex boss Dave Artell says the 33-year-old has seen a specialist before he embarked on a rehabilitation programme back at his parent club.

Jones' fitness was being monitored carefully and he had been given time to recover between games, only making three starts in the right-back berth after his return to Gresty Road last month on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Artell said: "Billy went to see a specialist and he has got a very bad injury. He's gone to get his rehab back at Rotherham.

"It is an occupational hazard unfortunately, but as one door closes another opens."

Youngster Travis Johnson is likely to be called on again, although Donervon Daniels is closing in on a return after featuring in two under-23 games and could also offer another option on the right of the back four.

Daniels suffered a serious hamstring tear in only his second start for Crewe against Wigan last October and has yet to re-emerge. But Artell hopes the defender can manage to complete 90 minutes in another under-23 opportunity against Birmingham City on Sunday.

"Donervon has come on great and he's played two under-23 games and would have played another one had yesterday's game with Hull not been called off, " said the Crewe manager.

"He's not far off at all, but he's not had a pre-season so we've got to tread carefully with him."

More encouraging injury news for Crewe is Callum Ainley's recovery from another long-term hamstring injury.

The attacker underwent surgery before Christmas and Artell reported: "Callum will be training next week, although that doesn't mean his return is imminent. But he's four weeks ahead of schedule and he'll be stepping up his rehab and he'll be playing under-23 games very soon."

Defender Luke Offord is due to see a specialist next week to assess the extent of his recovery from a hamstring tear sustained against Bristol Rovers on January 19.

While young midfielder Josh Lundstram has been given the go-ahead to start light training after being sidelined with a stress fracture.