Manager Paul Cook is looking forward to the Spireites’ televised Emirates FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at Anstey Nomads but he is also wary about the potential dangers.
Speaking to the media, he said: “It’s everything the FA Cup is about; it’s a fantastic tie. It’s a great reward for Anstey to get where they’ve got.
“We had them watched last week, a 5-0 win at home. There’s a reason why they are winning football matches. They’ve obviously got qualities that are seeing them get to the last qualifying round of the FA Cup.
“The game will be taken with the utmost seriousness. We don’t want to be that David vs Goliath – we don’t want to be it. We want to be sitting in the first round tomorrow.
“We are well aware of the difficulties that come travelling away. Everything is fraught with danger, and we will prepare properly for the game.”
Cook stated that Chesterfield can’t afford to put out a heavily changed side against the ninth-tier outfit and spoke about a couple of players in line to return to the matchday squad.
Cook said: “We will be picking a very strong team. There will be a couple of changes. There’s one or two lads that we haven’t seen that are equally chomping at the bit for places.
“(Armando) Dobra has trained all week and if he comes through training today, he will start tomorrow. That’s a big plus for us.
“We’ve got Tom Whelan back from his loan. We’re just having a look at him, and he will be in and around the squad.”
Liam Mandeville signed a new contract with the club on Thursday, keeping the midfielder at the Technique Stadium until the summer of 2024.
Cook spoke highly about what Mandeville brings to the team and the importance of consistency at the club, saying: “One of the big things [I’ve noticed] since my previous time at the club is the amount of signings we continually make in the pursuit of success. It’s a ridiculous amount.
“There’s no avenues for consistency or continuity. In a lad like Liam Mandeville, he epitomises everything good about what I like about footballers.
“His honesty, his work-rate, his endeavour to be better around the club, in the dressing room and on the training ground.
“He ticks the boxes of players you trust. I’m delighted for Liam that we have got this one done because he is certainly someone who can be involved at a successful football club.”
