Trotman Enjoying His Chance In The First Team.

Neal Trotman has played in the last 3 games for the Spireites, partnering Cooper at Centre back putting in 3 solid performances.

Talking to the official site he says: 'Obviously I was on the transfer list and I got a bit of an injury to my hamstring as well. I knew I was going to get a chance, it was just wether I take it really but I think the whole team have been doing alright. Me and Coops (Liam Cooper) at centre-half and Hirdy (Sam Hird) at right-back have been playing really well. All three of us really compliment each other, but Coops is a very good player. He's very composed I like playing with him. Akinfenwa and Platt was a physical battle, the number 10 at Southend (Barry Corr) is a big lad and Adebola today, but I think that suits me, I like the challenge when it is physical. '

I think the reason Cooper and Trotman work well is because they compliment each other, Trotman can deal with the physical attackers and Cooper has the pace to deal with the speedy attackers. Trotman has great aerial ability and Cooper has speed and great feet. it's great that he enjoys dealing with the big physical frontmen, they know they are in for a battle when they take on Trotman because he takes no prisoners and will not be pushed about.

He goes on to say: 'I had an operation towards the end of last season and it took me quite a while to get to pre-season, I was behind to be honest. In a strange way, being injured has helped to get my match fitness back up because I've spent time we Jamie Hewitt, Ashley Jones and Shinner (Shane Nicholson) as well and I feel a lot fitter now. But at the start of the season I was playing catch up.

It didn't help that there was very little cover for him, someone like Robertson could have come in, he was released and went to Crewe, but having no centre backs to come in to replace him meant that he had to struggle through games which saw his form suffer. Now he is fit and looking much slimmer he is a completely different player and putting in some great performances.

He then says: 'I'll never say I'm 100 per cent in case something happens, but I think I'm getting there. I've only played three games this year, but hopefully with each game I can get better. With me being transfer listed, I've been in the game a while and I'm only 25 but football changes, you never know what is going to happen. As far as I am concerned, I'm still on the transfer list and as each game comes I need to prove not just to everybody else, but myself as well. I always enjoy got a smile on my face and I'll just take each game as it comes.'

It's great to here a player talk like that and he as proved to the fans that he's a fighter and they are now chanting his name again 'Trotman the Animal'. It takes great courage to come out and prove people wrong and a lot of credit must go to him. In the last 3 matches he has been one of our best players forming a superb partnership and understanding with Cooper, I hope he keeps his place in the team because he has definitely earned it.

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