Chesterfield: Novak and Banks hand Spireites cup boost

Novak (calf) missed the weekend 1-0 defeat at Bury but returned to training yesterday and will be in the squad.

Banks suffered a knock at Gigg Lane but, after resting on Sunday, has recovered enough to be considered for a start at the Banks’ Stadium.

Smith will be without Richard Wood, Dan Jones and Angel Martinez for the second-round replay.

The winners will travel to Championship Brentford in the third round.

Smith said: “It’s all about trying to get you best players on the pitch and playing a formation to suit,.

“We probably won’t be reverting to three at the back after we looked more suited to the four on Saturday.”

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Sam Hird and Drew Talbot could flank Ian Evatt at Charlie Raglan at the back with Dan Gardner and Jay O’Shea on the wings either side of Banks and Sam Morsy. Novak looks like returning to partner Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in attack.

Smith, who doesn’t want the job permanently, has not been told how long he’ll be in charge after the sacking of Dean Saunders

“I’m happy to carry on,” he said. “But I know we need to start getting some results quickly.”

“Talk is cheap and after the run we’ve been on we need to start winning some football matches”

The Spireites’ opponents tonight are likely to be without leading scorer Tom Bradshaw.