Chesterfield v Gillingham preview

admin

Chesterfield will have to make a change up front against Gillingham after on-loan striker Caolan Lavery was recalled by his parent club Sheffield Wednesday.

Lavery leaving could see either Mani Dieseruvwe or Gboly Ariyibi brought into the starting line-up as Byron Harrison will not be an option for Spireites boss Paul Cook due to a family bereavement.

The versatile Drew Talbot has been recalled from his loan spell at Plymouth and he could be added to the Chesterfield squad.

Combative midfielder Sam Morsy will complete a two-match ban for the Blues, who really need to win on Tuesday night if they are to keep their play-off hopes alive.

Gillingham will wait on the fitness of two players ahead of the trip.

Josh Pritchard (hamstring) and Jake Hessenthaler (illness) missed the 0-0 draw with runaway League One leaders Bristol City on Saturday and the pair will be assessed before the Gills make the trip north.

Defender John Egan sustained knocks to his neck, back and knee but is likely to battle on and keep his place in the starting line-up.

Justin Edinburgh has stuck with a settled line-up in recent weeks and could stick with the same XI that earned that hard-fought point last time out.

Chesterfield v Gillingham preview

admin

Liam Cooper will captain Chesterfield in the absence of skipper Sam Hird.

Hird will begin a two-match ban on Saturday after receiving his 10th yellow card of the season during the 1-0 defeat at rivals Rotherham last weekend.

Spireites boss Paul Cook told reporters: “Liam Cooper will captain the team. I think he’s been very much an inspirational type lad since he came in.

“He’s very much a leader in what he does on the pitch, you know, and he’ll be given that opportunity on Saturday.

“It’s a huge honour for any lad to be the captain of this club.”

Cook has promised changes after such a poor performance at the New York Stadium.

He added: “There will be changes. You can’t put up with performances like that. We let a lot of people down last Saturday.”

Defenders Richard Brindley and Conor Townsend and midfielders Craig Clay and Mark Randall are among those players who will come into contention for starting roles.

Ivorian striker Armand Gnanduillet has an abductor problem and may miss out while winger Tendayi Darikwa is around two weeks away from a return as he recovers from a double hernia operation.

Leading scorer Danny Kedwell has a chance of returning for Gillingham.

The striker, with 12 goals to his name this term, has made a much quicker return to training than expected following his hamstring injury but manager Martin Allen remains wary of rushing him back too soon.

Andy Frampton was forced off carrying a knock just after the hour mark in last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Dagenham and continues to be monitored, as are a few unnamed players who have been struggling with a virus this week.

Midfielder Charlie Allen (wrist) is not yet ready to return.

The Gills go into the clash two points ahead of second-placed Port Vale but nine clear of the play-off places.

Chesterfield v Gillingham preview

admin

Derek Niven is doubtful for Chesterfield but Dean Morgan could return.

Midfielder Niven will be assessed having been forced off in the 53rd minute of last Friday’s goalless draw at Torquay with a jarred ankle.

Forward Morgan, meanwhile, missed the Plainmoor encounter altogether with a thigh strain but is hoping to return for the final day clash at a sold-out b2net Stadium.

Fit-again defender Simon Ford returned to enjoy a starting role in what was his first match in over two months against the Gulls and he has not suffered any ill-effects.

The Spireites go into the game knowing just a point will be enough to get their hands on the League Two title while second-placed Bury must win at Stevenage to have any chance at all of overtaking John Sheridan’s side at the summit.

But Gillingham, unbeaten in 11 away from home, go into the clash needing the points themselves, with the Kent club one of three sides on 68 points competing for two remaining play-off berths.

Gillingham will be without defensive duo Barry Fuller and Josh Gowling.

The Gills must avoid defeat against the Spireites to have any real hope of making the play-offs, but they are hampered by being without skipper Fuller, who suffered a bruised knee against Macclesfield last week.

Centre-half Gowling remains sidelined with the ankle problem that has seen him miss the last two matches but he, along with Fuller, could return should the Gills secure a place in the season finale.

Meanwhile, defender Simon King is a doubt after being replaced at half-time against the Silkmen with a tight hamstring, while veteran midfielder Kevin Maher is struggling with a virus.

Winger Andy Barcham (hamstring) and midfielder Curtis Weston (knee) face late fitness tests, while Mark Bentley should be fit despite a bruised back.

Should Andy Hessenthaler’s men better a result attained by either Stevenage or Torquay, who play Bury and Rotherham respectively, they will secure a play-off spot.