Ugarte set for loan

Crewe Alexandra have made striker Juan Ugarte available for loan after he failed to break into Dario Gradi's first team.

The Spaniard has endured a frustrating time at Gresty Road following his summer move from League Two club Wrexham.

The former Real Sociedad marksman admitted that he was second-guessing his decision to leave The Racecourse Ground and the situation has prompted Gradi to hand the Basque goalscorer a chance to play elsewhere.

"I haven't given up on Juan but he is a bit down the batting order at the moment," Gradi told the club's official website.

"He wouldn't be on the bench again on Saturday, so he may be better off playing regular football elsewhere for a while.

"We both agree it would be better for him to be playing games on a Saturday rather than have him watching from the stands.

"What he needs to do now is go somewhere else, score some goals and then we can recall him and give him a chance at this level."

Another Crewe player to head out on loan is midfielder Ben Rix, who is set to join Conference club Scarborough.

One player that could stay at Gresty Road is former Burnley midfielder Tony Grant.

The 30-year-old, who had a brief spell at Bristol City and a previous trial at Chester City, has been offered a contract to stay with The Railwaymen.