McAughtrie to seal a Rangers return

Stafford Rangers have turned to long-time favourite Craig McAughtrie to fill the defensive breach left by the departure of Jermaine Johnson to Derby County.

McAughtrie, who made over 200 appearances in five years at Marston Road from 2002 to 2007, is in the final throes of completing an emotional return to the club on a month's loan from league rivals Eastwood.

And the 28-year-old is expected to be handed a second debut when Harrogate are the visitors tomorrow, after Johnson returned to Pride Park at the end of his third month on loan.

The club have also moved to solve a central midfield crisis by borrowing Michael Burns from League One Carlisle United for a month, with the 21-year-old former Liverpool and Bolton youth player also expected to start tomorrow.

Rangers had been cut to the bare bones in the middle of the park after captain Bobby Wilson and Jake Moult left the club, while veteran Tony Dinning is still struggling with a back injury.

Assistant boss Darren Read believes the new additions are a significant boost to the squad.

He said: "The experience of Craig will be invaluable to us, he's a top-flight player at non-league level. He's a great centre-half, and has the money-can't-buy experience that we are lacking in that area, a place where we have leaked far too many goals.

"Michael is a young player who can fill the breach left by Bobby and Jake leaving us, and we are looking forward to seeing him work with the experience of Tony Dinning and our own exciting young midfielder Tom Thorley.

"They are players coming in at a time when we really need them."

Harrogate come to Marston Road fighting for their lives in the relegation places of the Blue Square North, while Rangers have climbed to 11th after back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

The Marston Road men also drubbed their visitors 4-1 in September's corresponding fixture, but Read is expecting a tougher game this time.

He said: "We went there earlier in the season and beat them comfortably but, to be fair, their manager's hands were tied that day with seven players out.

"We expect a sterner test this time, as they come to us on the back of a bit of form. We are both footballing teams and the best man wins, but I would fancy our chances very highly on the back of our last two results.

"It's fantastic with the lads, they are on that part of the learning curve where it's starting to come good."