Anthony Johnson has hailed the adaptability of Chester’s players, admitting that injuries have left the Blues with a ‘threadbare’ squad.

The extent of the club’s selection problems were laid bare in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Guiseley, where the visitors fielded a makeshift starting XI.

Johnson and joint manager Bernard Morley abandoned their preferred wing-back system in favour of a four-man defence for the fixture.

Injuries to Matty Waters, Danny Livesey and John Pritchard limited the Blues defensive options with Steve Howson, Dan Mooney and Jon Moran drafted into an unfamiliar line-up that saw Simon Grand deputise at left-back.

Johnson was left impressed by the quartet’s resilience in the Guiseley clash, with Moran excelling by heading a 93rd minute equaliser after being ushered upfield.

Chester’s selection problems were exacerbated further by captain Scott Burton suffering a recurrence of a calf problem in the game, leaving Johnson to reflect on an unprecedented injury list.

He said: “I’ve never known anything like it in terms of the injuries we’ve picked up at this stage of the season. We’re not offering it up as an excuse for how the first month has gone, but it’s felt like it’s never-ending at times.

“There are niggling injuries right throughout the squad and I suppose it’s down to the stop-start nature of how things have gone so far.

“We’ve lacked that match intensity you get from playing regularly. It’s taken a toll and left us with a threadbare squad for the Guiseley game

“But it’s a credit to the lads who played on Saturday, because defensively we dealt with everything Guiseley could throw at us. We knew how strong they are from set pieces and that they’d be direct. Our lads have stood up to a barrage of long balls and only been undone in the 88th minute by one great delivery.

“We’ve then thrown Jon up front and he’s popped up with a brilliant header to get us a point. Seeing all the lads adapt in difficult circumstances to what we’ve asked of them has been really pleasing for me and Bernard.”

Chester could be forced to play Saturday's scheduled encounter with Bradford Park Avenue at a neutral venue as the fallout from the severe water damage at the Swansway Stadium continues.

The damage saw home games against Kidderminster Harriers, FC United of Manchester and Hereford postponed.

Work to fix the damage, which has included a new PA and CCTV systems, has been ongoing for two weeks, but the league are putting time restrictions in place.

An assessment is needed after the work is complete and a safety certificate will need to be issued before the Blues can stage a home game again.

With that in mind - and the work scheduled to be finished later this week - the league are requesting that Chester find an alternative should problems arise with Macclesfield’s Moss Rose lined up.

Talks with Bradford PA regarding the reversal of the fixtures are said to have been positive, but the league is thought to be against the game being switched.