Bradford City defender Ashley Westwood is in danger of missing out on facing his former club Crewe tomorrow after suffering an ankle strain.

The 22-year-old moved from Gresty Road in a £150,000 deal during the summer but has been dogged by injury throughout the first half of the season.

Westwood was set to replace the suspended Andy O'Brien tomorrow only to suffer the injury in training this week.

City boss Paul Jewell said: "Ashley tweaked his ankle in training. It is nothing serious and he might be all right but it is too early to say.

"He has had a frustrating time but we are fortunate in that John Dreyer will be able to come back in if needed.

"The frustration for me in the last few weeks has been not being able to play any reserve games to get players match fit. We even tried to switch the midweek match with Notts County to Farsley but the weather beat us again."

When making his City debut at Crewe, the unlucky Westwood was crocked by a dreadful tackle from striker Rodney Jack which ruled him out for more than two months.

Then just three games after returning in mid-November, Westwood suffered another ankle injury against Swindon and has not been in the starting line-up since.

Tomorrow's clash also provides Gareth Whalley with a chance to face his former club as City look to cement their promotion bid.

Jewell said: "I think Gareth has been superb for us and one of our consistent players. He doesn't seem to get the headlines but he is a real team player.

"He works incredibly hard and is always available for the ball and has a sweet left foot. Gareth also has a great footballing brain."

Jewell is warning his side not to dismiss relegation haunted Crewe lightly as they have won three of their last five games.

He said: "Crewe have beaten us in our last two matches so we must ignore the fact they are bottom of the table. We had a scout at Sunderland when they lost 2-0 but they played very well.

"There are no easy games and tomorrow's match is like a cup final to us."

City: Walsh, Wright, Jacobs, Todd, Dreyer, Westwood, Moore, McCall, Whalley, Lawrence, Beagrie, Rankin, Blake, Mills, Watson.

Crewe: Kearton, Bignot, S Smith, Foran, Walton, Charnock, Wright, Johnson, Jack, Little, Rivers, Unsworth, Lunt, Street, P Smith.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.