Bully boosted by return of key duo

Stafford manager Steve Bull has been boosted by the return of established first-teamers Wayne Daniel and Danny Alcock for the visit of Redditch in the Blue Square North tomorrow (3pm).

Highly-rated goalkeeper Alcock completed 90 minutes for the reserves in midweek after two months out with a dislocated elbow, although he may face a battle to dislodge new No 1 Tim Sandercombe, who has kept five clean sheets in 10 games since signing for the club.

Skipper Daniel has also declared himself fit, after six games out with a thigh injury, with Bully yet to decide whether to pitch him straight into central defence and break up the current partnership of stand-in Bobby Wilson and Stuart Pierpoint.

The Rangers boss estimates that fellow defender Nick Amos is still "two to three weeks away" from a return after a knee injury, while doubts remain on Andre Francis' fitness.

One player who will not be involved is striker Mark Gardner, who has turned down an offer of a contract at Marston Road.

Bull said: "I offered Mark a deal but he feels that, with his expenses and so on, he can get better elsewhere. We couldn't agree terms. There is money there to bring in a new striker, but I would rather save it and push the boat on for a really top-class striker when one becomes available.

"So the striker search continues."

Stafford face a Redditch side buoyed by a win over the mighty Southport last weekend, a win that knocked the Merseysiders off the top of the league with Rangers' local rivals Tamworth taking advantage.

Some of Gary Whild's side will know Marston Road well, as Reds midfielders Lee Downes and Danny Edwards were part of Bully predecessor Phil Robinson's Stafford side.

It should make for an interesting clash and the home side will have to be at their best.

Bull said: "Redditch are a decent side, they proved that against Southport, so we will have to be at our best. If we play the same way as we did against Stalybridge, even though we lost, we won't be far away.

"We can match any team in this league, so we just need to concentrate on our own game."