Coleman hints that Evans needs to play at a higher level to resume Wales career

The 27-year-old Spireites striker has 13 caps to his name already, but his career was put on hold after a conviction for rape and time in prison.

Evans’ conviction was quashed earlier this year and he was found not guilty at a retrial last month.

Chesterfield took somewhat of a gamble on the striker, who had spent more than four years out of the game, when they signed him in the summer.

The former Sheffield United man has hit the net four times for Town this season.

But Coleman’s comments suggest Evans has a lot to do before he will be able to resume his international career.

The Welsh international boss says there are a lot of players ahead of Evans in the pecking order.

“From the football side of it, he has missed a lot of football,” said Coleman.

“I don’t know Ched personally - I’ve never met the boy. He was playing at a certain level before this situation occurred, and now he is playing at a different level.

“He has missed a lot of football, and since he has been away a lot has happened to this team. There are a lot of players in front of him.

“From a football perspective, a lot needs to happen.

“The boys I am looking at compete at a level we need them to compete at, to continue where we have been in the last two or three years.

“If anyone is going to make an impact on that, they need to be at least playing at the highest level and doing the business at the highest level.”