Crewe Alexandra have recalled teenage striker AJ Leitch-Smith from his loan spell at Icelandic Club IBV as cover for the injured Clayton Donaldson.
Leitch-Smith (pictured) has returned to Gresty Road, along with fellow youngster Chris Clements, after scans revealed Donaldson had suffered a fractured fibia in the league defeat at Bournemouth last weekend.
The youngsters who have developed through the Club’s Academy had been on loan with Icelandic Club IBV in a move to enhance their football development.
And Boss Gudjon Thordarson insists that that the pair will now move straight into his first team squad. Speaking to the Club’s official website Thordarson said:
“The lads from Iceland arrive back on Friday and they have done well over there. It has been a good experience for them and it has helped their development.”
“They have gone over there and done themselves justice. They are promising players and will go into the first-team squad here. We will see how they do.”
Meanwhile ex Apprentice James Bailey (left) adds to Crewe’s injury list after suffering a minor set-back in his recovery from a problematic hip injury.
The 20 year old midfielder had made a successful return to full training this week in the hope of facing Cheshire rivals Macclesfield, but as a precaution he did not take part in training on Friday after complaining of stiffness.
The Academy graduate has not featured for the first team since the first half against Blackpool in the Carling Cup, where he was withdrawn at the interval after suffering tightness in his groin muscle in relation to the hip injury that saw him miss the second half of last season.
