Rangers suffer Sutton setback

The full back, who is on loan from Crewe, underwent surgery on a knee problem and is now in rehabilitation.

The news comes just as Rangers extended his loan period for a further four months, up to January next year.

But manager Phil Robinson said today he was fully aware of the situation and went ahead with the loan regardless.

"We extended his loan knowing that he would be out for three or four weeks," said Robinson. "There is a little bit of loose cartilage in his knee which has been removed.

"We thought we might have him for the York game, but the surgery was brought forward a little."

Sutton is the second player on Rangers' books to undergo knee surgery in the space of a fortnight - striker Nathan Smith is still waiting for the long term prognosis on his operation.

Deadline-day signing Mark Bailey stepped in for Sutton at York and he will almost certainly be in the line up at Stevenage tomorrow.

Rangers will be hoping to extend their unbeaten away record in the Nationwide Conference to four matches against a Borough team rated as pre-season favourites for the title, but who have yet to win a match.

Robinson, though, has warned: "Stevenage will be challenging for promotion at the end of the season, they are a team full of excellent players and it is just a matter of time before they gel together and they start to pick up."

Rangers full back Nathan Talbott was unable to train this week and could miss his second successive game through a hamstring injury.

Stevenage should have their latest signing, former Kidderminster Harriers midfielder Dwane Lee in their line up along with former Port Vale, Leicester and Celtic star Steve Guppy.

The clubs have only met twice previously, in a pair of Conference games in 1994-95, both won by Stevenage.

Rangers (from): Williams, Alcock, Bailey, Daniel, Talbott, Murray, Robin Gibson, Lovatt, Downes, Street, Murphy, Grayson, Quailey, Madjo, Edwards, Olaoye, Oldfield.

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