Chesterfield vs Barnsley preview - No worries for Saunders

Posted Friday, August 07, 2015 by PA

Boss Dean Saunders has no injury problems to contend with as he prepares to take charge of Chesterfield for the first time against Barnsley at the Proact Stadium.

The former Wrexham, Doncaster, Wolves and Crawley manager was appointed in May as successor to Paul Cook, who left to join League Two club Portsmouth following the Spireites' unsuccessful play-off campaign.

Many of the club's stars who played key roles in Chesterfield finishing sixth in the table last season have departed over the summer so in the absence of Tendayi Darikwa, Jimmy Ryan, Gary Roberts and Sam Clucas it will be a much-changed team that takes to the field.

Experienced striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and promising youngsters Jake Orrell and Dion Donohue have been brought in so far by Saunders but only the former is expected to feature in the curtain-raiser.

Barnsley will be without summer signing Ryan Williams but head coach Lee Johnson has no other major injury worries.

Australian midfielder Williams, who signed permanently from Fulham this summer following a loan spell at Oakwell last season, has a groin injury.

"Everybody else is in half-decent nick, a couple still chasing minutes on the pitch and training sessions," said Johnson. "But we go into the game in the best condition we can, given our pre-season."

Johnson's other summer signings - Marc Roberts, Marley Watkins, Alfie Mawson, Conor Wilkinson, Ben Pearson, Joe Rothwell and Dan Crowley - are all hoping to make their debuts.