ZOUMANA Bakayogo could fill Crewe Alexandra’s impending search for a new left-back.

Having figured during pre-season, the 29-year-old is expected to sign a short-term deal at the club after three months out with a knee injury.

With Stephen Kingsley’s loan stint set to finish at the end of November and the Alex unable to extend it, boss Steve Davis is looking for options.

And after figuring in this week’s under 21 clash against Bolton which ended in a 1-1 draw, the former Tranmere Rovers and Leicester City defender is likely to get the nod.

“He has less than a month to get himself up to the level and could be quite a cheap replacement if we think he can do the job,” explained Davis

“We won’t have to look for a loan and it would be more of a permanent signing.

“Hopefully in the next three or four weeks we’ll see him edging closer.

“He came to us in pre-season with a really poor knee condition-wise.

“He has had a couple of cruciate operations and had been out of the game for a couple of seasons really.

“We felt we needed to do some work with him and with him only being down the road in Liverpool, we have given him the base to get himself fit.

“He is a great lad and he hasn’t been a problem.

“If he had we would have got rid of him a long time ago but he wants to get back playing professional football.

“He is getting closer and when you are out for a couple of years you need time to rehabilitate physically and mentally.

“I still think there are areas he needs to improve and I have spoken to him and his agent about that but we will review it as we go along.

“At the moment he needs more game-time.

”The reason for keeping him was because we felt he could help us in the future although no decision has been made yet.

“He is not old and he has just come from the Premier League club so we know he is good enough.

“I remember him bombing up and down the wings for Tranmere against us, causing us heaps of problems, and getting player of the season there before he moved to Leicester.

“Our doubts were always about his fitness but he is answering those questions at the moment.”

Kingsley and Adam King will figure in Saturday’s FA Cup tie at home to non-league Eastleigh after Swansea City gave the green light.

Burnley have also granted Danijel Nizic permission although Liverpool do not want Harry Wilson cup-tied as the Alex expected to be unchanged from last weekend’s 1-0 win over Sheffield United.

Ryan Colclough’s 71st minute goal saw Alex home against the Blades to Alex’s first home win of the year.