SKIPPER Matt Tootle should be back in the Crewe Alexandra squad to face Scunthorpe amid fears he could walk out of the club.

The 24-year-old full back is out of contract next year and could leave for free.

A big fans’ favourite after playing a huge part in Crewe’s achievements over recent years, the defender was tipped for a move to the Championship which failed to materialise during the summer.

Tootle won the club’s player and players' player of the year awards for 2013/14 but has struggled through illness and form to recapture those heights.

While many would wish him well come what may, it would also be a little sour to see him join the likes of Billy Jones and Max Clayton by exiting under a cloud.

Boss Steve Davis was philosophical on the situation.

“We would like Toots to stay,” he said. “But we have to be realistic.

“It will be his decision come the summer but he has to get himself back on the pitch first.

“Either way he has to play, get those games in and do well for us so it’s a win-win situation.

“The team has struggled and I think he has been taken along with that. He’s struggled to find the form of last season but I still back him to get back to that.

“If we can get that from him then it’s going to be a real plus. He would be like a new player in a way.”

Tootle has missed the last five games but could come back into the equation as Crewe look for three valuable points at fellow-strugglers Scunthorpe.

“He wants to play so we’ll see how it goes,” added Davis.

“He’s been back in training and has had a good week. It’s knocked him about and these things affect everyone differently.”

New signing Lauri Dalla Valle also figured in Crewe’s 1-0 defeat in a friendly at Blackburn this week.

However Davis is expected to stick with Uche Ikpeazu and Nicky Ajose up front as he plots victory.

“We’ll assess how they will line up and that might influence the selection,” he continued.

“But most of the time we need to focus on what we need to do.

“I’ve seen the right reaction from our players in training and the likes of Marcus (Haber) and Callum (Saunders) have stepped it up.

“They’ve seen who has come in and that has provided the spark.

“I will pick those that are being the most threatening, it really is up to them who plays.

“We’ve brought in three players who can score goals in League One and our lads know they have to perform consistently now to get in the side.”