Square pegs in round holes? Get on with it says Hird

Chesterfield have had to put square pegs in round holes again this season but Sam Hird says players have a duty to play in unfamiliar positions.
Sam Hird (Pic: Craig Lamont)Sam Hird (Pic: Craig Lamont)
Sam Hird (Pic: Craig Lamont)

Just like last season, the Spireites are missing left-back Dan Jones and with right-back Paul McGinn also out of action recently, central midfielders Dion Donohue and Liam O’Neill have been employed as full-backs.

That’s life in League One, according to centre-half Hird, who himself has featured in midfield and at full-back in his time at the Proact.

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“As a professional footballer, especially at our level, you have to be prepared to play in another position,” he said.

“When you’re in a Premier League team or in the Championship with a big squad, when someone gets injured, someone comes in who plays regularly in that position.

“At our level squads are a lot smaller, budgets a lot tighter, so when you lose a player there’s a good chance it might be someone from a different position that has to come into his place.

“Our job as professional footballers at this level is to be prepared for that and make sure you’re ready for what you need to do.”

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Hird admits as a centre-half it’s his job to talk stand-in full-backs through situations in games.

So it might come as somewhat of a relief when McGinn returns to full fitness.

“Paul had a great start to the season for us and was unlucky to get his injury when he did because he was playing well,” said Hird.

“It was good to see him back on the pitch the other night.”