TONY Mowbray is so determined not to run the risk of underestimating Crewe Alexandra that he is taking every available player to Gresty Road, despite an action-packed week for the club.

Monday night’s postponed Under 23s game against Reading at Leyland alleviated some of the pressure, with a number of those players set to be involved in tomorrow’s FA Cup second round replay, while the Under 18s are preparing for tomorrow night’s FA Youth Cup clash with Stoke City at Ewood Park (7pm).

In addition, Mowbray’s midfield has been decimated by injury and suspension, leaving Richie Smallwood the only recognised senior midfielder for tonight’s re-match.

With that in mind, and on the brink of a busy Christmas programme, it could be a temptation to rest key players tonight.

But, stressing the importance of maintaining winning habits, both on and off the pitch, Mowbray said: “I think if they’re fit, they’re coming.

“It’s important that we keep the group together, whether they start the game or don’t I think it’s important that they come and have the pre-match meal and sit in the team meeting and hear the messages of how we’re going to play and how positive we’re going to be. The repetition of the same messages are important.

“There are no players where I think ‘you have a rest today’, ‘you sit out’. They will all be coming and hopefully we can go and find a performance that gets us the right result.”

But Mowbray admitted that adding a replay into the mix this week had taken its toll.

“At this moment the club is massively stretched,” he said.

“There will be some Under 23 players involved in our squad and there will be some Under 23s who will involved in the youth cup on Wednesday.

“The club is really stretched numbers wise.

“But I see it as an opportunity to win some matches for the first team and hopefully for the U18s to get through to the next round of the youth cup.”

With gaps to be filled in midfield, Mowbray has encouraged others to follow the lead of Willem Tomlinson in seizing his chance at Peterborough on Saturday.

“It was touch and go whether it was Tomlinson or (Scott) Wharton as the seventh player on the bench. Just before we had the team meeting in the hotel we were debating that with the staff. Ultimately we picked the right one because of the injuries to both Peter (Whittingham) and Corry (Evans),” said the Rovers boss.

“When the opportunity came Willem took it with both hands and the team didn’t look any weaker at all. If anything he enhanced the performance of the team.”