Chesterfield vs Peterborough United - Ian Evatt injury blow for Chesterfield ahead of clash with Peterborough

Posted Tuesday, March 14, 2017 by PA

Chesterfield's fight to stay in League One has suffered a blow ahead of the home game against Peterborough with the news that Ian Evatt may miss the rest of the season.

Evatt scored the Spireites' equaliser in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury but was later carried from the field on a stretcher with his knee in a brace. Blues boss Gary Caldwell told local reporters on Monday that the defender was set to have a scan but that he feared Evatt will not play again this campaign.

Caldwell also said full-back Paul McGinn and midfielder Jon Nolan, who have both been out with hamstring injuries, trained well on Monday and both will be back in the squad against Posh.

Reece Brown has returned to Birmingham from his loan spell with Chesterfield, who remain without striker Ched Evans (ankle).

Peterborough will be without the suspended Leonardo Da Silva Lopes. The midfielder was sent off during the home defeat to Oxford and he will serve a one-match ban.

Winger Marcus Maddison (ankle) will remain out but Posh boss Grant McCann still has several options in midfield with Anthony Grant, Martin Samuelsen, Brad Inman and Callum Chettle all pushing for recalls.

Right-back Michael Smith is a fresh injury concern after limping out of the Oxford match with a dead leg and he will be assessed.

Should Smith fail a fitness test, Jack Baldwin would be favourite to take his place in a switch that would involve Michael Bostwick returning to the centre of defence from midfield.