Why Laurence Maguire is a future Chesterfield captain

The 24-year-old is the club’s longest serving player and he celebrated his birthday this week by signing a new two-and-a-half year contract.

The centre-half has played under nine permanent Spireites managers since turning professional in 2015, after joining the academy three years earlier.

‘Loz’ has seen the highs under Paul Cook, who gave him first pro deal, and experienced the lowest of the lows.

But now, hopefully, the good times are coming back under manager James Rowe.

It is very refreshing to hear that Maguire turned down Football League interest in the January transfer window to extend his stay at the Technique Stadium. Fantastic loyalty, a quality we don’t see enough of in football. He deserves a lot of credit for that.

Many other players would have jumped at the chance to escape non-league but Maguire, who has made more than 100 appearances for the club, stayed loyal and clearly believes that a return to the Football League can be achieved with Chesterfield. A phrase used recently by Rowe comes to mind: “Short-term pain for long-term gain.”

The last 18 months have been very testing for Loz, who has shown plenty of resilience and desire to get to where he is now.

In 2019 he did not play for two months because of illness, he was not even allowed to exercise for six weeks. Not long after his comeback, he suffered a serious knee injury on Boxing Day and was ruled out for the rest of the season. He made just 15 appearances and was only on the winning team twice.

Back to full fitness last summer, Maguire started every game except one under previous boss John Pemberton and has been an ever-present since Rowe came in.

The Sheffield-born defender has nailed down the left centre-back spot. He is not afraid to receive the ball in tight spaces under pressure and he regularly brings the ball out from the back. An overlapping centre-back who has delivered more than 40 crosses this season. His heat map is one you would expect to see from an attacking full-back or winger.

Previously used at left-back and in central midfield, you can’t see him playing any other position now, although he may nudge in one to the middle of a back three in years to come. Perhaps his versatility was actually his downfall. It must be difficult to find some consistency when being shifted around the park.

This season the impressive Maguire has played 1,646 minutes, 62 per cent of his overall actions during games have been successful, his passing accuracy is 75 per cent and his dribbling accuracy and aerial duels won are almost at 60 per cent.

How can he improve? It is not his main responsibility but I think he could add some more goals to his game. He is yet to find the net this season.

In my opinion, he has all the qualities to be a future captain of the club. Away from his performances on the pitch, he is an impressive young man who does a lot of work with the community trust.

Tieing him down on a new contract until the summer of 2023 is a shrewd bit of business by the club.