Spireites star thrilled to return

The utility man, aged 29, picked up a hamstring injury just before Christmas but battled back to fitness - only to be stuck down with food poisoning.

The ex-Owls man appeared 37 times in 2015 for Spireites and in a loan spell at Plymouth Argyle, then managed by John Sheridan.

He came on at half-time at Wigan Athletic with Chesterfield 3-0 down and Danny Wilson’s team went on to have a much more solid second half, scoring the only goal of the game through another sub, Ollie Banks.

Talbot’s appearance was his 226th in the League for Spireites, taking him into 35th spot on the all-time list, overtaking defensive legend Steve Blatherwick in the process.

Coming on to the right of midfield, Talbot said: “That was one of my first positions.

“It was tough, their left wingback was getting in a little bit in the first half, so the gaffer wanted to try and cut that off.

“Minutes on the pitch are important to me and I want to get as many as possible and get myself back to the level I was at before.

“Just before I got this hamstring injury I felt like I was getting back to something that I was content with, any minutes are good minutes and I was pleased with how I played.

“There were a lot of positives from the second half and we showed how good a team we are, they got nervous a little bit and the fans got at them a because of what happened here midweek when they drew 3-3 with Sheffield United after being 3-0 down.”

Talbot could be considered for a number of positions for the forthcoming home match with Millwall; either full-back spot, left or right in midfield and even central midfield, where he played several games for Sheridan in that spell at Argyle last year.