FIRST team coach James Collins says Crewe Alexandra must use their enforced break to prepare for a crunch Christmas spell.

The Railwaymen earned a second successive win on Saturday to move off the bottom of League One, with Adam King scoring the winner against Oldham Athletic.

Out of the FA Cup, the Alex return to action at Doncaster on December 12, before facing four games in just over two weeks.

Collins admits it could make or break their relegation battle.

‘The positivity from back-to-back wins is massive,” he said.

“We wanted a game this week and we wanted to be in the FA Cup.

“Going into the Oldham game we knew that we had a two-week break which if we had lost it, would have been a real blow.

“The players can take a lot of out that 3-2 win at Colchester.

“Now they can get in their rest and recuperation and then we’ve got to go again for the Christmas period.

“We’ve got a lot of games against teams in and around us in the league and they are six-pointers.

“With the players we’re getting back, the manager will have some big decisions to make for the next game.”

Lauri Dalla Valle could be another long-term absentee after injuring his ankle in a 2-0 under 21s win at Leeds this week.

Callum Saunders grabbed both goals with better news for vice captain David Fox who came through 45 minutes after his spell on the sidelines (vertebrae).

Midfielder Chris Atkinson (muscle) and Brad Inman (groin) could both be back in contention for Doncaster.

“The break won’t do us any harm,” said boss Steve Davis.

“Ryan Colclough has been suffering a bit with his hamstrings and it will give us time for people like Foxy and Brad to get back.

“It’s a good thing that we have a chance to work with them and integrate them back into the squad.

“They have been important players for us and many of those out would probably be in the team if they were fit.

“It also gives us time for the new players to come in and we’ll be doing lots of work on the training ground to try and improve.”

Harry Wilson has had his loan spell cancelled by parent club Liverpool after struggling to hold a place down in the Alex side.

The highly-rated 18-year-old started just three games and was due to stay until January 5.

Davis is likely to offer experienced left-back Zoumana Bakayogo a short-term deal imminently.

“We did a sprint test and he’s the quickest we’ve got,” he added.

“I think he’s keen to stay, his knee is now fine and he’s gone half a year without earning any money so either we have to do something or he goes elsewhere.”