Bell hopeful of Tracey return for Crewe run-in

Crewe Alexandra boss Lee Bell says he is hoping striker Shilow Tracey can play some part in the club's bid to get into the League Two play-offs after recovering from a broken leg.

The 27-year-old forward has not played first-team football for more than a year but has been building his fitness with the Alex's under-21 side over the past few weeks.

Tracey, who joined Crewe from Cambridge United in June 2023, signed a new 12-month contract in July 2025, with the option for an additional year.

He marked his latest comeback game this week with a goal as Crewe's under-21 side beat Barnsley 5-2 and Bell said, if all goes well, he thinks Tracey can be an option over the remaining four games.

"I'm really made up for him - it was a great finish," Bell told BBC Radio Stoke having seen Tracey in action.

"It's really pleasing that he's actually gone into the danger and around the bodies. So he's showing that confidence in himself and backing his body. It was a really well taken finish."

Bell said Tracey is set to play in another youth game with the hope of getting him ready for the first team.

"He's done a lot of work. All good signs and hopefully in the near future he'll be in the match squad," Bell added.

"I think it's a target for everybody - the fans, all the players, the staff, the target is to try to get him involved in the squad between now and the end of the season.

"It'll be a real plus for us with the attributes he's got. He obviously won't be in a position to start but to have that danger coming off the bench, it'll be a real asset for us."

Crewe travel to Grimsby Town on Saturday where a win could take them back into seventh place above Chesterfield, who have a game in hand.

With the Mariners one point behind and, having played two matches fewer than the Alex, the margin for error for Bell's side is small.

But he is relishing the challenge.

"We've put ourselves in a position where we're in the conversation again, which is credit to the players, and it is exciting," Bell said.

"It's what we want to be in football for. It gets the juices flowing. We're all going to be taking points off each other.

"So it's going to go right down to the wire but we're going to enjoy doing it. We'll go for it and we'll see what ends up happening."