Rochdale v Chesterfield preview

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Full-back Tom Kennedy is set to feature against Chesterfield after returning to Rochdale for a fourth spell this week.

The 29-year-old’s contract expired last month but Dale boss Keith Hill has handed Kennedy a deal until the end of the season after admitting he needed “that little bit of experience”.

Hill is set to again be without Rhys Bennett (knee), while fellow midfielder Matty Lund (dislocated shoulder) is unlikely to return this season.

Hill’s men have slipped from fifth to 16th after picking up only one point out of a possible nine, although they do have up to three games in hand on their play-off rivals.

Chesterfield hope to have captain Ian Evatt and talisman Gary Roberts available again as they seek a return to winning ways.

Centre-half Evatt had to sit out the trip to Scunthorpe on Tuesday night after he suffered a bout of concussion last weekend, while winger Roberts is close to a return after just over a month out with a hamstring injury.

Defender Ashley Carter, on loan from Wolves, and winger Gboly Ariyibi made their debuts for the Spireites against the Iron and both players would be unlucky not to feature at Spotland.

Blues boss Paul Cook has plenty of options at his disposal as he looks to halt a three-match losing run in League One, with the likes of Daniel Jones, Armand Gnanduillet, Caolan Lavery, Charlie Raglan, Mark Duffy and Ollie Banks all ready for recalls.

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Rochdale v Chesterfield preview

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Rochdale will be without suspended skipper Peter Cavanagh against Chesterfield.

Dale lost their appeal against Cavanagh’s straight red card for a high tackle in last week’s defeat at Burton and the midfielder will start a three-game ban.

Summer signings Bastien Hery, Andrew Tutte and teenager Jamie Allen will all be vying to start in Cavanagh’s absence, while midfielder Matty Done is pushing for his first league start since arriving back at the club from Barnsley.

Manager Keith Hill has no other new injury or suspension problems as his side look to bounce back from successive defeats.

Chesterfield have an unchanged squad for their trip to Rochdale.

Centre-half Ian Evatt and winger Jamie Devitt remain the only two players unavailable to manager Paul Cook, whose team have won 2-0 in both Sky Bet League Two fixtures this season.

Evatt, Cook’s captain in waiting, is nearing match fitness following a lengthy lay-off after knee surgery while Devitt will complete a three-match suspension carried over from last season.

Liam Cooper, an unused substitute against Cheltenham last weekend after an absence with a side strain, is one of many options for Cook should he wish to make any changes along with fellow defender Matty Brown, midfielders Tendayi Darikwa and Sam Togwell and strikers Eoin Doyle and Armand Gnanduillet.

Rochdale v Chesterfield preview

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Rochdale will have defender Shane Cansdell-Sherriff and goalkeeper Steve Collis in their squad.

Cansdell-Sherriff joined on loan from north-west neighbours Preston until the end of the season earlier this week and is expected to go straight into Keith Hill’s starting line-up.

Collis moved to Spotland on transfer deadline day, agreeing non-contract terms to provide cover for number one Josh Lillis following Ben Smith’s decision to leave in search of first-team football.

Recent loan signing Andy Haworth came on as a late substitute against Cheltenham last Friday and the winger will push for involvement once more, along with veteran striker Dele Adebola, who featured for the final 35 minutes of the 0-0 draw in place of Ashley Grimes.

Hill has no new injury worries as he prepares to take charge of a home game for the first time since returning as manager.

Reece Gray (broken leg) is back in training but remains a long-term absentee.

Chesterfield boss Paul Cook will select from an unchanged squad.

But Cook, who made no new additions this week ahead of Thursday night’s transfer deadline, may opt to make changes to his starting line-up following the 1-0 home defeat to Southend.

Armand Gnanduillet made his debut as a late substitute against the Shrimpers and the big Ivorian might be pushing for a more prominent role at Spotland.

Fellow striker Jack Lester, midfielder Mark Randall and defenders Conor Townsend and Richard Brindley, still awaiting his debut after joining the club last week, were also on the bench last weekend and Cook could promote any of them into his starting XI.

Right-back Drew Talbot will miss a third match with his broken toe.

Rochdale v Chesterfield preview

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Rochdale winger Simon Hackney has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury and will not play.

Summer signing Hackney has yet to appear for Dale due to a long-term abdominal injury, but had recently returned to training and was closing in on his debut before suffering a recurrence of the problem.

Manager Steve Eyre has no new injury or suspension problems, but following the weekend defeat at Exeter hinted at a change at left-back, where Marc Twaddle could be preferred to Pim Balkestein.

Recent arrival Nathan Eccleston scored on his debut at Exeter and is expected to make his first home appearance for the club following his loan move from Liverpool.

Dale are chasing their first win in four league matches.

Manager John Sheridan will make changes to his starting line-up when Chesterfield travel to Spotland for the second time this season.

Sheridan saw his side defeated for the fifth successive league game as Hartlepool triumphed 3-2 at the B2net Stadium on Saturday.

He said: “I’ve got a lot of players fit at this moment in time and it’s up to me to pick the right team. I’ve got a lot of players who think they should be playing and they might get a chance. I will make some changes but whoever comes in, I am comfortable with.”

Defender Aaron Downes, midfielder Craig Clay and forwards Dean Morgan and Jordan Bowery started on the bench at the weekend and are options for Sheridan, while midfielders Derek Niven and Dwayne Mattis and utility player Jamie Lowry are fit again.

However, goalkeeper Tommy Lee remains out after suffering an injury setback. The first-choice stopper was expected to return from a five-week absence with a groin problem against Hartlepool but was ruled out at the last minute and is set for a scan on Monday.

Chesterfield were beaten 3-2 after extra time by Rochdale in the Carling Cup first round during the opening week of the campaign.

Rochdale v Chesterfield preview

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Rochdale will hand a late fitness test to striker Chris O’Grady.

O’Grady has been struggling with a foot problem in recent weeks and although he stepped off the substitutes’ bench in the second half of Saturday’s defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, the forward is still feeling some discomfort.

Manager Steve Eyre said: “We’ll see how Chris is on Tuesday before the game. He played for 15 minutes or so on Saturday.

“Chris is in for treatment and is still feeling it, so we’ll give me another day and have a look at him on Tuesday.”

Summer signings Marc Twaddle and Paul Marshall hope to make their first competitive appearances in midfield, while Eyre has no other new injury problems.

Chesterfield have no new problems ahead of the first-round clash.

Utility man Jamie Lowry could come into the squad after he was left out of the Spireites’ League One opener against Tranmere on Saturday.

Should manager John Sheridan wish to make changes to his team, he has plenty of options.

Summer signing Greg Fleming could get a run out in goal while defenders Dean Holden and Aaron Downes, midfielder Derek Niven and striker Scott Boden – all of whom were substitutes at Prenton Park – will be hoping for starts.

After playing 90 minutes against Tranmere, veteran striker Jack Lester could be rested with the first home game against Stevenage on Saturday in mind.