Crewe boss Lee Bell says top scorer Emre Tezgel's ankle injury is "not great" but is hopeful he will only be out for a "couple of months" following the striker's return to Stoke City for rehabilitation.
The 20-year-old had been in superb recent form for the Alex scoring in each of his last five league games, taking his tally to the season to 13.
Tezgel was forced to come off half an hour into Crewe's 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers on 19 December and has gone back to his parent club to work on his recovery.