Chesterfield v Exeter preview

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Chesterfield boss Paul Cook will select from an unchanged squad against Exeter.

The same players that made up the matchday 18 at Hartlepool last weekend will be on duty again on Friday, which means another place on the bench for teenage striker Jake Beesley.

Cook hinted at his pre-match press conference on Thursday that winger Gary Roberts, the League Two player of the year, could return to the starting line-up.

Jimmy Ryan will complete a two-match suspension while fellow midfielder Ollie Banks (foot) is out for the remainder of the season but right-back Drew Talbot is expected to play again this campaign following an abductor problem.

Exeter captain Danny Coles returns to contention when his side travel to Chesterfield.

The former Bristol Rovers man served his one-game suspension in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Cheltenham and manager Paul Tisdale has to decide whether to stick with man-of-the-match Pat Baldwin or recall Coles.

The City boss also dropped number one Artur Krysiak for youngster Christy Pym and has a goalkeeping decision to make on the long trip north.

Scot Bennett was utilised as a striker on Saturday and it remains to be seen whether he remains in that position or drops back into midfield.

Chesterfield v Exeter preview

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Jack Lester will return to the Chesterfield starting XI and captain the side on what will be his last appearance for the club.

However, goalkeeper Tommy Lee will miss the Spireites’ final game of the season through injury.

Lester is out of contract in the summer and will not be offered a new deal. The veteran striker, 37, has missed the last two matches with a back complaint but he will play on Saturday and lead the team out.

Other changes to the starting line-up will be necessary as Lee suffered an ankle injury in training this week and Richard Brindley has a hernia problem.

Full-back Brindley was forced off during the first half against Fleetwood last weekend, when Chesterfield’s play-off hopes were extinguished despite victory at Highbury.

Richard O’Donnell will be called back into the squad due to Lee’s injury while defender Sam Hird, midfielders Alex Henshall, Danny Whitaker and Craig Clay and strikers Scott Boden and Armand Gnanduillet are available for recalls and teenage forward Jonathan Wafula could be included on the bench.

Exeter boss Paul Tisdale will give his fringe players the chance to impress.

The Grecians’ play-off hopes were ended by a 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham last weekend which means nothing is riding on this final match of their season.

And the Exeter boss has confirmed he will use this as an opportunity to field some of his younger players to continue their development ahead of next season.

With Steve Tully having used painkilling injections to play through the pain of a broken toe in recent weeks, Aaron Dawson looks set to step in at right-back while Jake Gosling, Jamie Reid and Jordan Moore-Taylor are all pushing for starts.

Anton Rodgers is also likely to be given a chance in the Exeter midfield having only made one appearance since joining the club from Brighton.

Liam Sercombe and Matt Oakley remain out while Tisdale may chose to leave out experienced duo Tommy Doherty and Alan Gow who have not been fully fit in recent weeks due to injury.

Chesterfield v Exeter preview

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Exeter will be without on-loan forward Jake Taylor for the trip to Chesterfield this weekend.

Reading man Taylor, who has scored twice in 14 matches this season since joined the Grecians on a temporary basis in September last year, has been receiving treatment for a hip problem at his parent club in recent days.

The Welshman is now back at St James’ Park but his injury is likely to keep him out of action for up to two weeks.

Otherwise, manager Paul Tisdale has a fully-fit squad to select from as Exeter go in search of a crucial three points at the rock-bottom Spireites.

Tisdale’s side have not won a league match at their last five attempts, a run stretching back to November 26.

Jack Lester will come back into the reckoning for Chesterfield ahead of the visit of Exeter.

Lester missed the Christmas and New Year fixtures as he served a three-match suspension.

The veteran striker usually starts at the B2net Stadium so Noel Alexandre Mendy, Craig Westcarr or Jordan Bowery will see their places come under threat.

John Sheridan’s squad will be boosted by Liam Ridehalgh after 20-year-old defender signed on loan from Huddersfield for the remainder of the campaign.

Neal Trotman remains available after the defender’s loan spell from Rochdale was turned into a permanent transfer this week.

Sheridan has options should he wish to make changes, with midfielders Jimmy Juan, Dwayne Mattis and Derek Niven available alongside forwards Scott Boden and Dean Morgan.