Why Chesterfield manager James Rowe signed midfielders Jak McCourt and Tom Whelan

McCourt, 25, was a free agent after last being at Macclesfield Town and has joined on a month-to-month contract.

Whelan, 24, signed for an undisclosed fee from Weymouth.

Both came on in the second half against Aldershot Town on Tuesday night.

On McCourt, Rowe said: “We just want to assess him and the only way you can assess him is giving him game time.

“He has got very good technical ability, he showed that with his passing range when he came on.

“He can play as a ‘four’ or an ‘eight’ - where Curtis Weston played tonight, so he can be box-to-box, he has got the legs to do that especially when he gets fitter.

“The pass inside the full-back for Jordan Cropper to get in for a cross was outstanding and I think he showed his worth there. He just needs to get up to speed, he has not had a lot of football in the last three months.”

Rowe said that Whelan is a ‘technical’ and ‘powerful’ player and his deal is more long-term.

“When he joined up with the front two he got into good positions,” he told the DT. “He gets in the box, he scores goals but also he can create. He is a good age, 24, so I am hoping he will be a really good signing for the club and that is why he is here. He was a big part of Weymouth’s promotion push. It is one that I have followed, one that I trust and he will be here for next year as well.”

When asked if improving midfield was a priority, Rowe added: “With Milan Butterfield we only had three central midfielders and we need more than that because I am going to play with a three in there whether we play 4-3-3 or 3-4-3. I always want to overload that middle area so we need more midfielders and those two fit the bill and are raring to go.”