Former Arsenal, Leicester City, Cardiff City and Peterborough United defender on trial with Chesterfield

The Spireites ran-out 2-1 winners at Alfreton Town on Tuesday night and here are some of the talking points from the game:

UP AND RUNNING

The Blues notched their first goals and their first win of pre-season at the Impact Arena. This time of year is all about fitness but to tick those two things off will be satisfying. The play was much sharper and brighter compared to the first outing against Matlock Town so it is clear that they are starting to get into their stride. The second-half in particular was the best 45 minutes we have seen so far. There was a lot of urgency and more passages of play that you would associate with this team.

WHO IMPRESSED?

I thought Kane Drummond looked lively and was the biggest threat in the first 45. You can see he is still a bit raw and his final pass/finish/decision-making needs some work but he certainly put in a shift. I also thought Joe Quigley made some good runs and his hold-up play was decent. Lewis Gordon caught the eye again with some dangerous runs and crosses, Ryan Colclough played with a real intensity and drive and you get the feeling you could throw a brick at Chey Dunkley and he would head it.

TRIALIST

Right-back Vontae Daley-Campbell played 52 minutes. The 23-year-old, who was capped by England at youth level, started out at Arsenal and was there between the ages of nine and 18 before he joined Leicester City. His other clubs include Cardiff City and Peterborough United, as well as a loan spell at Dundee.

Cardiff saw enough in him to offer him a three-year deal in 2022 and Peterborough secured his services to help them in the latter stages of last season after impressing on trial. Posh manager Darren Ferguson said at the time: "He is another good option for us at right-back and he is different to what we have. He is a quick powerful player with a real opportunity to show what he can do. He likes to get forward and attack and I am pleased to have him on board. He needs a game or two to get up to full fitness, but he has settled in well."

I’m no scout but he showed plenty of athleticism, explosive pace at times and some neat touches. I definitely think he could be worth another look.

STRINGS TO THEIR BOW

As previously mentioned in these sorts of stories, it might only be a minor thing, but Chesterfield did play a few longer balls than normal in the first-half. There were occasions when they went longer from the back and tried to play off Joe Quigley or search for him in behind. Some came off, some didn't, but it’s perhaps another example of the Spireites trying to add another string to their bow ahead of the new season.

SET-PIECES

Chesterfield scored 30-odd goals - the most in the National League - from set-pieces last season and they got off the mark here with a thumping header by Tom Naylor from a terrific corner from Bailey Hobson.