Out on loan –– but not out of the picture

GAME time is what Deane Smalley and Kelvin Lomax need more than anything else.

That is the verdict of Athletic manager Paul Dickov, who agreed to the pair leaving the club in order to go to Chesterfield on three-month loan deals.

Both players came off the substitutes’ bench for Spireites manager John Sheridan in the club's 5-2 home win over Accrington on Tuesday night.

And Dickov believes the temporary move will do the pair some good.

"They both need games" Dickov said. "Deane went to Rochdale with the indication we wanted to get games under his belt.

"He missed a lot of pre-season and fitness work and with the team and squad doing well at the moment, we need Deane to get games to try to get back to where he was two or three years ago.

"We spoke about it and we will do everything we can to get him back there, but ultimately it is down to Deane."

While 22-year-old Smalley appears to have a post-January future at Boundary Park provided he can regain his old spark, as one of remaining four players on the transfer list Lomax's own prospects are more clouded.

However, despite that uncertainty, Dickov said the 23-year-old had kept his head up.

"They are both going there until January to get games and after that we will take it from there," Dickov added.

"Kelvin has been unfortunate. I had a decision to make in pre-season about him going on the list, but I can't speak highly enough of his attitude.

"He has been fantastic and just wants to play games.

“Now he has the chance to go and do that. Chesterfield are a good side."