Chesterfield striker Akwasi Asante feeling good after long-term injury as he helps Spireites defeat Notts County

Akwasi Asante says he is feeling good after his long-term injury.
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The striker took his tally to five goals in 14 appearances when he scored Chesterfield’s third in the win against Notts County from the penalty spot.

The 29-year-old had previously been out for eight months after injuring his ACL.

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He said: "I feel like I am there now. We are in March now and I have been playing since early January so I feel like I am getting there now. I was a bit tired today after the back-to-back Saturday-Tuesdays but I will make sure I recover well ready for the run-in.”

Akwasi Asante scored Chesterfield's third goal against Notts County from the penalty spot.Akwasi Asante scored Chesterfield's third goal against Notts County from the penalty spot.
Akwasi Asante scored Chesterfield's third goal against Notts County from the penalty spot.

With Kabongo Tshimanga having undergone an operation, there has been a lot of pressure on Asante to score the goals for Town.

In Paul Cook’s 4-2-3-1 formation, Asante has been used in a couple of attacking positions.

He explained: "I don’t mind playing left, right or down the middle. Wherever the manager puts me I will put a shift in and try and do my best for the team. It is about the team, not about me. If he puts me centre-half I will play there!”

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Asante slotted in Chesterfield’s third against the Magpies after Liam Mandeville was fouled in the box.

With Laurence Maguire on for a hat-trick, was there any consideration to let the centre-back score a rare treble?

"I have always believed that as a striker you have got to take penalties,” he said. “It is our job to score the goals. I was confident that I would score and there was no one taking it off me!

"That is my first goal in front of the home fans so it was a nice feeling to seal the game.”

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On the overall performance against County, Asante said his teammates were ‘brilliant.’

"I think we went a goal down against the run of play, I thought we did really well in the first-half,” he added.

"At half-time the manager said to relax and that we were playing well and that we would get chances and get back in the game.

"We dug in and in the second-half we showed our quality. We kept their goalkeeper busy and that is what we have got to do."