Chesterfield v Walsall preview

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Goalkeeper Jon Flatt is set to be on the Chesterfield bench against Walsall after joining from Wolves on deadline day.

The 20-year-old will stay with the Spireites until the end of the season as cover for Tommy Lee after Aaron Chapman was told he needed surgery on an ankle problem.

Striker Armand Gnanduillet saw his loan spell at Oxford cut short but the timing of his return means he is unavailable for this weekend’s clash.

Byron Harrison could be back after missing the last few games due to a family bereavement to boost a Chesterfield side aiming to close the five-point gap to the play-offs.

Romaine Sawyers is unavailable as he is on international duty with St Kitts and Nevis for their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Rico Henry is out with a dislocated shoulder and Amadou Bakayoko is expected to be sidelined with a hamstring problem.

The Saddlers have suffered no injuries following their 2-0 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final defeat to Bristol City on Sunday.

Tom Bradshaw, who had been a doubt with a hamstring injury, lasted 63 minutes but is expected to be fit for the weekend.

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Chesterfield v Walsall preview

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Chesterfield are waiting to see if Jack Lester will be fit enough to be involved.

Lester has been making cameo appearances from the bench having recently recovered from three months out with a broken arm. The veteran striker was due to play against Heanor in the Derbyshire Senior Cup on Tuesday night in a bid to boost his fitness, but had to pull out after contracting a virus.

He is the only injury concern for manager John Sheridan after defender Nathan Smith overcame a knock to train in midweek.

Sheridan has a spot to fill up front after Leon Clarke played the final game of his loan spell from Swindon against Wycombe last weekend.

Jordan Bowery could fill the void but Scott Boden, back from a loan spell at Macclesfield along with defender Dan Gray, staked his claim for a start with a second-half hat-trick in the tie against Heanor.

Walsall have received mixed news on the injury front.

Centre-back Manny Smith looks unlikely to feature at the b2net Stadium having been forced off in the 80th minute on Tuesday’s FA Cup second-round replay against Dagenham & Redbridge after being kicked in the face as he went for a diving header, losing as many as three teeth.

Smith was released from hospital on Tuesday night but is set to miss out against the Spireites, with skipper Andy Butler ready to step back into the fold.

Central defensive partner Olly Lancashire had already been forced off in the first half of the tie nursing a hamstring injury but he has a chance of featuring.

Full-back Mat Sadler returns to Dean Smith’s squad having served a one-match suspension in the penalty shoot-out defeat to the Daggers yet striker Ryan Jarvis completes his three-match ban.

Midfielder Kevan Hurst is back in full training having recovered from a broken bone in his heel but is not expected to be match fit.