Chesterfield FC: Paul Cook should consider making the most of Newcastle United agreement in the coming weeks - View | OneFootball

Paul Cook has successfully utilised the loan market at the start of the season, but one Newcastle loanee is still waiting for his chance to shine.

Some fingers were pointed at Chesterfield goalkeeper Ryan Boot in the Spireites' 2-2 draw at Bromley on Tuesday night, and after a number of shaky moments, some fans are calling for the introduction of Newcastle loanee Max Thompson.

Boot has started every League Two game this season after he was promoted from the role of cup goalkeeper last campaign, as Blackpool loanee Harry Tyrer impressed in his 42 National League appearances for Chesterfield on route to the National League title.

While Tyrer was lifting the National League, Thompson spent the first half of last season on loan at League One Northampton, where he kept five clean sheets in 15 games, as he now searches for a first taste of senior football for almost a year.

The former England C international Boot was a dependable number two last season, but following a few moments of madness to start the campaign, it may be time for Thompson to stake his claim for the starting spot.

Boot has had an inconsistent start to the season

The 29-year-old had a relatively poor game in wet and windy conditions in South London, and the cracks started to show early on when the shot-stopper failed to clear his lines, which almost gifted Michael Cheek a tap in.

He followed that up minutes later by charging out of his goal and slipping, which gave Bromley a golden scoring chance, but the resulting effort from Daniel Imray was saved by a recovering Boot.

There wasn't much the goalkeeper could’ve done about Olufela Olomola’s close-range effort to open the scoring, but Bromley’s second must go down as soft, with Omar Sowunmi’s header bouncing off Boot’s near post and trickling across the goal line to give Cheek a tap-in, a record 10th in this fixture.

The former Solihull Moors shot-stopper also made a mistake for Cheltenham Town’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw in Chesterfield's last home match.

After a relatively quiet opening hour, the goalkeeper rushed out and failed to clear his lines, as Arkell Jude-Boyd ran through and slotted the ball into an open goal, in a moment that cost Cook’s side the three points.

But despite making a few errors, Boot has had a mostly steady start to the season, with solid performances against Crewe and Grimsby standing out to supporters.

Boot made five saves and successfully snuffed out two dangerous crosses in Chesterfield’s 2-1 win over Grimsby, as the Spireites successfully saw out the last 25 minutes with 10 men, following a red card to Darren Oldaker.

The Port Vale academy graduate has two clean sheets to his name this season against Doncaster and Crewe but, with a few unforced errors sneaking into his game, now could be the chance to give the new man some much-needed minutes.

Thompson impressed in his only Chesterfield appearance

The 20-year-old’s only minutes this season have come in the EFL Trophy, where Cook has given minutes to squad players and youngsters, and he kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win against Lincoln.

Thompson looked assured on his debut and made three saves, two of which came from efforts inside the box. The youngster’s 6’1 frame allowed him to come for crosses, which Boot has struggled with at times, as he made one successful punch and a high claim.

This current loan spell is Thompson’s second in the EFL, as he originally went on a six-month loan to League One Northampton Town last season as an understudy to Lee Burge, but injuries gave the youngster a first taste of senior football, and he impressed.

The then 18-year-old made 15 appearances and kept five clean sheets, including a shut-out against eventual fourth place Peterborough United, as the Cobbler’s climbed as high as ninth in the table before his loan deal expired.

The former England U18 international was statistically Northampton’s best-performing shot-stopper last season, with the fewest goals conceded per game and highest save percentage compared with experienced keepers Lee Burge and Louie Moulden.

After not playing regular first-team football in almost a year, Newcastle United will be closely watching Thompson’s development and, while being in and around an EFL dressing room may benefit the goalkeeper, he is ultimately not playing football.

After joining the Spireites late on in the window, Thompson said it was a good opportunity for him to try and get some games under his belt, and with just 90 minutes of EFL Trophy action to his name, Newcastle’s concerns will be growing by the week.

Cook, then, should, at the very least, be minded to switch things up in the goalkeeping department.