It looks like the season could be over for Chester's Simon Marples after the experienced full back sustained a broken toe in a training match recently. The 31-year-old former Doncaster player has been a consistent performer for the Blues this term in what has been a satisfactory, if unspectacular campaign for Mark Wright's men. Chester are currently lying in mid-table in League Two but, with no real chance of either promotion or relegation, at least Marples won't be missing out on any crucial games between now and the end of the campaign. Givemefootball's Mark Shail is the man armed with the questions.
Q:TELL US HOW YOU SUSTAINED THE INJURY?
A:We were playing some practice matches in training and one of the players accidentally stamped on my toe and I knew almost straight away that some damage had been done. I hand an x-ray and it confirmed that there was a broken bone so it probably means my season has finished.
Q:IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT YOU COULD BE BACK FOR THE LAST FEW GAMES?
A:There is a possibility, it all depends how the break heals. At the moment it looks like a clean break so if it heals quickly there is an outside chance I could make it back for the last couple of matches. But if the bones don't knit together properly then I will have to have a pin inserted and obviously that would keep me out for longer.
Q:WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON CHESTER'S SEASON?
A:Overall you have to say it's been a bit disappointing. At the start of the season we had a lot of new players at the club and it took a bit of time for everyone to gel but we can't use that as an excuse at this stage of the campaign. When you consider how inconsistent we have been it's surprising that we're still only nine points off the play-offs and when you look back at some of the points that we dropped and think to yourself what might have been.
Q:WHY DO YOU THINK THE CONSISTENCY HAS BEEN LACKING?
A:I don't really know, it's hard to put your finger on it. I think the longest unbeaten run we've had all season is just six games – so from that respect we probably don't deserve to get in the play-offs. You look at sides like Hartlepool, Walsall and Swindon and they seem to produce high levels of performance week-in-week-out, and that's why they are at the top of the league.
Q:WHICH SIDES HAVE YOU BEEN MOST IMPRESSED WITH THIS SEASON?
A:I thought Walsall were the best side we've played. They are a good footballing side and very well organised. Swindon are another strong outfit with strength in depth, they play a slightly different system to Walsall but were also very impressive. I know Hartlepool are running away with things at the moment but we played them earlier in the season when they were struggling and actually beat them.
Q:AND IT'S HARTLEPOOL AWAY THIS WEEKEND, ISN'T IT?
A:Yes, they've been a totally different side in the second half of the season and Danny Wilson has done a fantastic job. It's going to be a tough game, and I'm disappointed to be missing out, but the lads got a good win against Barnet on Saturday and hopefully they can build on that.
Q:WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF YOUR FORMER CLUB DONCASTER'S PROGRESS IN LEAGUE ONE?
A:When Dave Penney was replaced by Sean O'Driscoll they went on a really good run but seem to have lost their way over the last few weeks. At one stage they looked like reaching the play-offs but they then got to the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the Millennium Stadium and perhaps they've been guilty of losing a bit of focus on their league games since then.
