Chesterfield top scorer Tom Denton ruled out for 10 weeks

The 31-year-old is going to have an operation on his knee which has been troubling him since the Sutton United fixture at the start of December.

“He is actually having an operation on Tuesday to clear up his knee,” manager James Rowe said.

“We are hoping it is just a clear-up but obviously when you open up the knee anything can come forward for the surgeon so if there is anything else in there that needs doing then it may be a longer lay-off than we thought but we are looking at around 10 weeks for Tom.

“Goalscorers are hard to find so naturally it is disappointing and disappointing for the lad as well because he was really enjoying it, I think, and he was really coming into good form as well before the injury.

“It is one of those things. Injuries are part and parcel of the game and he needs to overcome that and I am sure he will. He is strong-minded.

“It could be good news but I can’t really update you too much but he is going to have the surgery and it is whatever is in the knee but we are hoping it is just going to be a clear up and 10 weeks.”

Denton has scored nine goals for the Spireites this season and he will be a big miss for Town in both boxes.

With Scott Boden out of favour, Luke Rawson on loan and Nathan Tyson working his way back from injury, Denton’s injury leaves Chesterfield light on striker numbers.

When asked by the DT if his injury could mean the Blues will look to bring in another striker, Rowe added: “Potentially. We are not really looking at that at the moment, we are focusing on the group we have got. With all the scaremongering around the National League at the moment I think it would be not wise to recruit at this stage because there is going to be a vote which we will find out more on Monday.”