Chesterfield striker Akwasi Asante ruled out for nine months with ruptured ACL

The 28-year-old, who has bagged 10 goals since joining from Gloucester City last November, went off injured in the second-half against Boreham Wood.

Speaking after Saturday’s defeat to Bromley, Spireites boss James Rowe said a scan showed the striker had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

“It has been a heartbreaking few days,” Rowe said.

“He is out for nine months, he has ruptured his ACL, so we have been dealing with that as a group.

“He gave his best wishes to the lads and he just wants us to finish the job.

“The lads gave it their all for him and they will until the end of the season.

“He has been class since he has been here, as a human being as well.

“It is a gut-wrencher.

“It is heartbreaking for the lad because I have known him for a long time.”

He added: “But we have to flip that into a positive and say he is going to come back stronger because he has got a first-class physio, he has got first class-treatment here and we will try and get him the treatment as quick as possible.

“There is not much swelling which is good news, it means he can go in for the operation as quickly as possible but obviously it is not great considering who he is on and off the field for us.

“We have to flip it into positive energy so that we do it for him.”