ROWE’S DEALT ASANTE INJURY BLOW!
CHESTERFIELD’S promotion hopes have been dealt a major blow with the season-ending injury to star striker Akwasi Asante.
The 28-year-old has been ruled out for nine months with a ruptured ACL knee injury which will require surgery.
Asante has scored ten goals for the Spireites since he joined from Gloucester City with manager James Rowe back in November.
The Dutchman hobbled off in the second half of Chesterfield’s midweek draw with Boreham Wood – and their worst fears have come true.
“It has been a heart-breaking few days,” Rowe said. “He is out for nine months, he has ruptured his ACL, so we have been dealing with that as a group.
“He gave his best wishes to the lads and he just wants us to finish the job. The lads gave it their all for him and they will until the end of the season.
“He has been class since he has been here, as a human being as well. It is a gut-wrencher. It is heart-breaking for the lad because I have known him for a long time.”
The ex-Kidderminster Harriers, Solihull Moors, Grimsby Town and Chester forward has helped spear head Chesterfield’s rise to play-off hopefuls.
But Rowe, whose side lost for the first time in seven matches yesterday to Bromley, is determined for this setback to inspire his side.
“We have to flip that into a positive and say he is going to come back stronger,” he said. “He has got first class-treatment here and we will try and get him the treatment as quick as possible.
“There is not much swelling which is good news, it means he can go in for the operation as quickly as possible but obviously it is not great considering who he is on and off the field for us.
“We have to flip it into positive energy so that we do it for him.”