Chesterfield v Doncaster Rovers: Grant McCann hoping to turn up the heat on leaders Walsall
Chesterfield, Stockport County conclusion may be vital ahead of Walsall and Doncaster Rovers
After a busy January window saw Chesterfield bring in six new arrivals, as well as the departures of James Berry and Dilan Markanday, Paul Cook’s new-look squad will be put to the test almost immediately, with fixtures against the league’s top two coming up.
The National League winners have struggled for form as of late, with just one win in their last seven league games, and as a result, the pre-season favourites for promotion have slipped to 10th in the table, eight points off the play-off places.
After Cook suggested the Spireites would be active on deadline day, there was radio silence in Derbyshire, despite reports linking 20-year-old defender Malik Owolabi-Belewu with a move to the SMH Group.
They didn’t make any deadline day moves but Chesterfield fans were delighted at the complete silence because it meant star player Armando Dobra would remain at the club – better news than any new signing.
Armando Dobra remains a Chesterfield player despite Stockport County’s interest
Having already sold James Berry to Wycombe Wanderers earlier in the window, losing the 23-year-old at the 11th hour would have been a disaster for the Spireites, who would have had virtually no time to replace him.
League One Stockport County were rumoured to have a strong interest in the winger, as they hunt for a third promotion in four seasons, with Dobra’s form improving in recent weeks, scoring five and assisting one goal in his last 10 games.
The Albania U21 international has been a fan favourite since his move from Cook’s former team, Ipswich Town, in the summer of 2022, and he played an instrumental role in Chesterfield’s National League title win last year, scoring 10 goals and providing 10 assists.
The former Colchester United loanee started this season brightly with a goal in his first two League Two games. His form took a dip in Autumn, going goalless from August and late October, but after winning man of the match following a goal and an assist against Bromley, the winger looks back to his best.
Blessed with a low centre of gravity, a turn of pace, and immaculate close control, he is comfortably Chesterfield’s most technically gifted player, with the winger’s technique and skillset making him a perfect player in Cook’s possession-based system.
Dobra’s current deal at Chesterfield doesn’t expire until the summer of 2026, and thanks to Berry’s six-figure sale, the Spireites are not short of cash, so they are in a strong selling position.
If the Albanian’s impressive form continues, there will undoubtedly be teams sniffing around for his signature in the summer, but in the meantime, Dobra will have a key role to play to try and make Cook’s play-off dream come true.
