Stuckmann hopes to stay between the sticks for Spireites next season

Chesterfield's keeper Thorsten Stuckmann saves a certain goal from Shrewsbury's Stephen Humphrys

The goalkeeper admits it hasn’t been his greatest season, having had to find another club when his contract at Partick Thistle ended at the turn of the year.

Whilst his focus has been on keeping Chesterfield in League One, securing a contract beyond the summer is also one of his targets.

He’s thankful the Spireites ended his mid-season search for a job.

“My contract was up at Partick Thistle on 1st January and I had a few sniffs at League One clubs and one higher club as a second choice but it didn’t really materialise,” he said.

“I got the opportunity to come in here and keep fit and I was really grateful for that.

“There was a good feeling that I could fit in the squad and bring experience to the table.

“We said we’d do it until the end of the season.

“Obviously from a mental point you’re just happy to be back and you can do what you love to do.

“If you want to be a footballer you just have to be grateful.

“I’m so happy I’m here.”

His deal at the Proact might have taken care of the short term, but with a family to support Stuckmann has got to think about what happens when the 2016/17 season ends.

Having departed Doncaster last summer, and Partick earlier this year, he’s all too aware of how it feels when there isn’t a contract on the table.

The big German said: “It’s never nice.

“It’s not nice when you’ve got two kids at home and a wife and you haven’t got an income.

“We’re now fighting for jobs again because my contract is up in three months.

“I’m 35 now and I’m looking from year to year.

“A year like last year or this year when you’ve been three months there and then out of contract, I don’t want to have that again, it’s not nice.”

Stuckmann is out to convince Gary Caldwell and Chesterfield that he’s worth keeping on at the Proact.

“It’s a good option to put myself in there and show them I would like to have a contract here after the season. That’s what I’m trying to do.

“I’m doing everything I can to stay in this league and make sure I offer them something that they say they would like to keep me on board for next season.”

But regardless of whether or not he finds himself in Caldwell’s plans, the 6ft 6ins custodian plans to play on.

“I feel good,” he said.

“As long as I love to go out for training and love to be on the pitch on game days as well I want to carry on.

“I played 40-odd games last season, I’m feeling fit, I am fit and I’m a keeper so hopefully another couple of years.”