Losing skipper would be '˜massive' blow says Donohue

The Chesterfield captain, who scored Town’s goal in the 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury on Saturday, was carried from the field on a stretcher after sustaining what looked like a serious knee injury.

Although the result of a scan will confirm the extent of the problem, boss Gary Caldwell already expects the worst, fearing medial collateral ligament damage.

For Donohue, who played alongside Evatt in a back three at the weekend, it’s a devastating development for the relegation threatened side.

“It’s a massive blow to lose him,” he said.

“Obviously we don’t know how long, what the extent of the injury is but it is a massive blow.”

Evatt joining another veteran, Ched Evans, on the sidelines with nine games to go in the League One season means a very inexperienced Spireites side will be left to battle it out for survival.

Donohue is trying to look on the bright side, hoping that the carefree attitude that sometimes accompanies youth will help the club.

“It doesn’t help,” said Donohue.

“Obviously the experience they bring, they know how to lift everyone.

“But there’s a lot of youth in the team and sometimes they don’t feel as much pressure as the older ones, so maybe it can be a breath of fresh air.

“I’m still massively inexperienced, it’s only my second season in the professional game.

“But there are younger lads than me in the squad and I’ve played a lot of games now this season.

“It can work either way but it is a massive blow for Evo to be out.”

With Evatt out, Caldwell is exploring the possibility of bringing centre-half Laurence Maguire back from his loan spell at AFC Fylde.

In Donohue he has a 23-year-old who is happy to ‘do a job’ for the team, albeit preferring to play in the middle of the park.

“Everyone that knows me knows I like to play in midfield. Personally I’m just glad to be out on the pitch,” he said.

“Wherever I’m asked to play I have to give 100 per cent and keep learning.

“I’ve had Evo next to me which is a massive help with all the experience he’s got.

“I’m just glad to be on the pitch no matter what position.”

Donohue was tasked with starting attacks from the back on Saturday and that has helped him to reconcile with yet another new position, having been used as a left-back by Danny Wilson.

“I’d say I quite enjoy playing there, I see a lot of the ball,” he said of his role in a back three.

“Obviously I would prefer to be a bit higher up the pitch but I’m buying into it, I’m happy to play there.

“The manager encourages me to get on the ball, he wants me to come out with the ball.

“Sometimes it’s hard to influence the game from the back but it’s one of them, I’m just glad to be playing.”