O'Neil hopes to be back before season finale after freak injury

Chesterfield vs Port Vale - Injured pair Angel Martinez and Liam O'Neil - Pic By James Williamson

The 22-year-old, who has been playing right-back in recent games, tried to stop a cross in training and when the ball hit him directly on the toe – injurying his ankle.

The left ankle strain will put him on the sidelines for a ‘short spell’ according to the club’s head of sports science and medicine, Rodger Wylde.

He said: “Liam missed last weekend’s match due to landing awkwardly in training at the end of last week.

“At first we needed to assess the area and make sure we knew the extent of the injury. Liam had an X-ray and an MRI scan and pleasingly they showed that no serious damage had occurred to the ankle.

“We now know that Liam has an ankle sprain and we will be working with him with the hope being that he will be available to return to the squad before the end of the season.”

Danny Wilson hopes to have the former West Brom man back in action sooner rather than later.

“Liam, from what we’ve learned in recent days, he’s going to be out for a little while with an ankle injury,” he said.

“You never know. With a bit of luck we can see him before the end.”