Chesterfield facing defensive injury crisis for MK Dons clash - predicted line-up
Chesterfield are facing a defensive injury crisis for Sunday’s match at MK Dons.
The Spireites sit eighth in League Two, just outside the play-offs on goal difference, and only four points off the automatic promotion spots, ahead of the trip south this weekend. Opponents MK are two places and one point better off so there is a lot riding on the 12noon kick-off.
Town started the new year with a 1-1 draw at Oldham Athletic, taking the lead through Adam Lewis’ first league goal for the club, but were pegged back when former Spireite Kane Drummond equalised after the break, assisted by another familar face in Joe Quigley. And they breathed a huge sigh of relief in added-time when Zach Hemming was the hero of the day, saving a penalty from Joe Garner to ensure they did not return to Derbyshire pointless.
But the visit to Boundary Park was a costly afternoon, with Kyle McFadzean sent off for a second bookable offence after fouling Drummond for the penalty which means the defender will miss Sunday’s clash through suspension.
And with Chey Dunkley (shin) definitely out, Jamie Grimes (tight groin) a doubt and Janoi Donacien being forced off late on with precautionary knock and new signing Malik Owolabi-Belewu recovering from a quad injury and awaiting international clearance, it leaves Chesterfield scrambling around for centre-backs. Tom Naylor played there in the latter stages on New Year’s Day and could be required to do so again. They are also awaiting the scan results of a quad injury suffered by left-back Lewis Gordon against Cambridge United.
As well as that, Ryan Stirk (glute) had to come off as the clock ticked down against Oldham so he too will be checked on, while Dylan Duffy (hamstring) is being managed. And although Dilan Markanday and Armando Dobra are making progress in recovering from hamstring injuries, it will be around the middle of the month before they return if all goes well, but even longer for Bailey Hobson.
It was the first time that Vontae Daley-Campbell, McFadzean, Donacien and Lewis had played together as a back four in the draw at Oldham and it looks set to be another new makeshift defence this weekend in a match which will complete a busy period of five games in 15 days.
In other squad news, striker Freddie Ladapo, who was officially announced as a Chesterfield player on New Year’s Day, could make his debut.
Predicted line-up: Hemming; Daley-Campbell, Naylor, Donacien, Lewis; Fleck, Stirk; Mandeville, Darcy, Berry; Bonis. Subs: Boot, Tanton, Grimes, Butterfield, Duffy, Grigg, Ladapo.