Paul Cook has revealed the reason why defender Chey Dunkley was missing from the Chesterfield squad in their last match.
The 32-year-old has been a near-constant presence for the Spireites this season but was out of the squad as the Derbyshire club played out a 2-2 draw at home to Notts County. Speaking to 1866 Sport, Cook said that (Quotes via Derbyshire Times):
“[Chey Dunkley] is going to be out for a period of time. He has got a neck problem that we have to manage now. He has been for a scan and the specialist wants him to have a break now and a rest and we must abide by that now because of the severity of the injury. He will be a big miss for us.”
Dunkley joined the club in the summer on a free transfer from League One side Shrewsbury Town. He has already notched up 11 appearances for Chesterfield and has only missed two games in the draw last weekend and the match against Grimsby Town due to suspension. He has already opened his scoring account for the club, heading home from a set piece during their fantastic win over Doncaster Rovers a few weeks ago.
His replacement when the Meadow Lane club travelled north was Tom Naylor, but a late booking in the midst of the fallout after the late penalty scored by David McGoldrick was awarded means that he will be unable to face Newport County on Friday night.
The Derbyshire Times also confirmed that fellow summer signing John Fleck will also be on the physio’s bench for the foreseeable future after picking up a hamstring injury. The former Sheffield United man is still waiting to make his Spirites debut since joining as a free agent last month.
Paul Cook’s side travel to Rodney Parade as The Exiles seek to put their back-to-back losses behind them, having been beaten by Bradford City and Harrogate Town in Yorkshire. Both sides are level on points heading into the contest, and a win for either would put them on the cusp of the play-off places ahead of the action on Saturday.
Writer’s View
Chey Dunkley has been one of Chesterfield’s best players this season, bringing his League One experience to a side that had just gained promotion back into the Football League. He will be a big miss and also losing Tom Naylor temporarily will leave a big void to fill at the back against Newport County. Jamie Grimes was an unused substitute against Notts County so he would be the logical replacement to fill in.
