If the defeat to Bury at Gigg Lane was disappointing then the sight of Ryan Cresswell limping off late in the game was equally so. The defender has been an ever present in the Silkmen side under new boss Keith Alexander and is desperate to take his place in the starting line up against Chesterfield on Saturday.

"I just knew when I landed that is was not something I would just be able to run off," recalled Ryan when we spoke to him as he headed off to the physiotherapy room today for more treatment. "I went over on my ankle and there is still a lot of swelling around the joint. I haven't been able to train all week apart from gym sessions. So we will see how it responds over the next 48 hours. At this stage though at best I reckon we are talking about a 50/50 chance of me being fit to play."

"I'll be gutted if I don't though as the Chesterfield game is massive. We should really have finished the job off already but we were under par at Bury. Defensively I thought we looked ok but as a team we just seemed to lack any drive going forward. The opening goal gave them confidence and even though they didn't really create many clear cut chances in the end they had enough to settle for the 1-0 win."

"It was a big blow but I still remain confident that we'll get the result we need on Saturday to allow us to start looking forward to next season with a bit more certainty. Ultimately the league table doesn't lie but I think we have the players at the club to be a lot higher up than where we find ourselves."

"I am another of the lads who is out of contract come the end of the season. Sheffield United have said there will be a contract for me for next season. But nothing has yet been put on the table so until it is I just have to keep doing what I am doing and hopefully impress a few people into believing I am worth a deal."

"If it was a choice between reserve team football with United though or a chance of regular action with someone like Macc I would jump at the latter. Games actually mean something. You are playing for points week in week out and I really do enjoy rolling up my sleeves and being involved in the cut and thrust of things."

And being a Rotherham lad what did Ryan make of the situation at Millmoor?

"As a kid I used to be regular on the terraces and it's really sad to see what is happening. A lot of mates still go down and they thought this was going to be their year. They had a great unbeaten run and suddenly the plug is pulled. From a chance of the play-offs they now sit in mid-table with nothing to play for. That said they did us a favour at the weekend beating Dagenham and hopefully they can do the same as they are due to face Mansfield on Saturday."