STEVE Davis insists rock-bottom Crewe Alexandra have no funds for reinforcements ahead of Saturday’s League One trip to Barnsley.

The Alex boss has seen his squad left stretched by a string of injuries and international call-ups as they look to try and get their season going.

George Ray was stretchered off in the 3-2 home JPT defeat against Wigan Athletic after being knocked out following a challenge with Jordi Hiwula.

The centre-half joins long-term absentee Harry Davis (knee) on the sidelines while Billy Bingham (hamstring), James Jones (shoulder) and Dave Richards (foot) also miss the trip to Oakwell.

Stephen Kingsley, Harry Wilson and Callum Saunders all missed that cup exit due to international call-ups and Marcus Haber also departs to join up with Canada.

It leaves the Railwaymen with very few options, particularly at the back.

They are likely to start where they left off with James Bailey at right-back, Ollie Turton switching to the left and Ben Nugent striking up a central partnership with Jon Guthrie.

“I don’t think we can bring anyone in,” said Davis.

“I don’t think there is any money to do that now so we’ll have to go with the players that we have got.

“It’s likely we’ll go with the same back four that finished on Tuesday night.

“That’s two left-footed centre halves, Bails and Ollie on the left. It’s not ideal but we’ll work with it.

“Bails came in as cover on the night at the last minute.

“I wasn’t going to go with a defender but I thought we might need one and the reason we had him on the bench was we didn’t have anyone else.

“That’s not being disrespectful to James, but he’s not been doing particularly well in the under 21s and was on the bench due to the lack of numbers.

“It was hard for him to come into a game like that and we succumbed to the pressure.

“But he’s got an opportunity and it’s there to take.”

Davis says they have to stick together.

“We just keep conceding three goals which is a massive factor,” he continued.

“We scored two goals and had some possession but we couldn’t keep the ball up there enough and the pressure was too much.

“We’re still searching for that full 90 minutes when we get all aspects right.

“We lost control of the game at important times and we paid the price.

“I can’t ask for more physically but what I ask for is better decisions.

“They panic a bit instead of staying in control of what they are doing.

“It’s a test of character and we have to stand up. It will take guts and belief in each other.”