Chesterfield: Midfielder does not feel under pressure

Midfielders Connor Dimaio and particularly the experienced Gary Liddle will give the man who spent last season with Sutton Coldfield Town competition for an engine-room role.

Donohue, who was a schoolboy with Everton before moving into Welsh non-league football, has mustered ten starts for Spireites, several in the unaccustomed role of left-back, but he was switched back into his favoured central midfield for Spireites’ last game against Millwall.

The inexperienced player said: “It’s good to be playing finally. I’ve had a good run of games now and I’m enjoying it. Fitness wise I think I’m there, I’ve always been quite fit but obviously when you step up to this level it’s quite a lot quicker but I think I’ve got there now.”

Regarding his time at left-back he said: “I had to work a lot on defending one v one situations. When I first went in there it was tough but after a few games I think I got to grips with it. We worked a lot on positioning, you can’t over commit as much as a defender, so all in all it was a very good learning experience.”

Donohue was 21 when he started his summer trial spell with Spireites, he was 22 soon after, and he said of his second chance: “I hadn’t given up on it but, to be honest, I didn’t think it was going to happen at 21. Not many players come back into the game at that age so I didn’t expect anything to come along but people around me were always saying I could do it and I thought I could do it.

“But it’s all about getting that chance and Chesterfield gave me that chance, it’s a good club and I’m enjoying every minute. My family’s very proud and very supportive, they’re all made up with it.”

Spireites host Peterborough United on Saturday; Posh signed Exeter City striker Tom Nicholls, who scored against Liverpool in the FA Cup last month. He replaces Conor Washington in the squad.