Freddie Ladapo’s absence from Chesterfield’s matchday squad at the weekend has been explained.

The striker, who joined at the start of January after impressing on trial, was not in the squad of 18 for the 1-1 draw at Crawley Town on Saturday. Instead, his place went to Will Dickson, who has missed out himself from time to time since signing permanently last month.

Ladapo, 33, is still awaiting his first goal for the club after making seven appearances, but he has only made one start, which came in the shock defeat to Newport County. The former Ipswich Town forward came off the bench in the 1-0 win against Gillingham just days before the trip to Crawley and there was no sign or mention of an injury.”

And after the draw at Crawley, Danny Webb confirmed he was left out purely for selection reasons.

He said: “Obviously we have got a good squad at the minute. The gaffer has always traditionally had the one striker. When Freddie came in we had Lee (Bonis) and Griggy and Freddie was aware of that and they have done ever so well to earn those places in the team and on the bench. Freddie has been around it but the decision was made today to just go with different substitutes.”

The late draw saw Chesterfield drop a place to seventh in the League Two table. But they could find themselves lower with Walsall in action on Monday and Salford City playing on Tuesday. Next opponents Barnet, who the Spireites travel to this Saturday, are in action away at Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night so that could mean Paul Cook’s men are a bit fresher this weekend.