Young Sheffield United defender arrives at Chesterfield with 'point to prove'

The left-sided centre-back, 20, has joined on a season-long loan from Sheffield United with a ‘point to prove.’

He will travel with the squad down to Aldershot Town so he could make his Spireites debut on Saturday.

“He is someone who has been on the radar for a while,” coach Danny Webb told the DT.

"He is young and hungry.

"I think in the game in pre-season against us you saw a calmness and balance.

"He can defend, he knows the league because he has been on loan before.

"In training yesterday he just fit straight in. He bed down straight away with training. He is here to prove a point. He is here to help us. He is here to play some games, hopefully.

"With Laurence Maguire going to Crawley he gives us another really good option at left-sided centre-half.”

Some fans have been wondering whether Freckleton, who was loaned out to Wealdstone and Yeovil Town last season, has come in just to provide cover for Jamie Grimes.

But Webb said: "I certainly don’t think he will look at it that way.

"He is certainly not going to come down to the National League and be happy to sit on the bench or be a back-up.

"Speaking to him, he wants to come in and play straight away. Whether that happens or not, we will wait and see and he understands that we are having quite a good season so far.

"He was in and around Sheffield United’s team early on in the season, albeit they were short of players, bit even so Paul Heckingbottom must have thought something of him to have him that close to his team.

"He is a very focused lad, he has had his loans, and now he really wants to make a name for himself.”

Webb also said that Freckleton probably would be able to play left-back and that his arrival could allow them to change formation if they need to.

He explained: "I am sure his preferred position is left-sided centre-half but, with him coming in, that not we often do it, we can go to a three at the back if need be if you are trying to see games out.”

Freckleton is the second player to join on loan from a Premier League club, which suggests those in the top-flight trust the Blues to look after their young stars.

Webb added: "It is a compliment to us as a team and a club that they have done their research on us and decided that we would be a good fit.

"It is also a compliment to the players that they are really up for coming.

"I think in pre-season they (Sheffield United) saw that we are a good footballing team.

"We are not a typical non-league club in terms of the infrastructure and support-base and that makes a difference.”