Reid looking forward to duo's return

Stafford Rangers winger Levi Reid believes the return of full-backs Jon Patrick and Andre Francis could make all the difference to the stretched squad at Marston Road.

It has been a gloomy week so far for the players in the wake of Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Ilkeston, a defeat described by midfielder Tony Dinning as "embarrassing" in yesterday's Express & Star.

But the outlook is brighter for the return of Patrick and Francis from knee and hamstring injuries respectively, with both figuring for the reserves last night in a bid to step up their rehabilitation.

Francis, who can operate at right-back or on the wing, has missed three games while Patrick, who plays on the other flank, has been out for over a month.

And Reid believes having his partner in crime on the left will bring just the sort of steel needed for the survival fight, with league leaders Fleetwood the visitors on Saturday.

He said: "We have just all got to stick together, roll up our sleeves and try to grind results out. At the moment there is a lot of negatively, but what has happened is gone now and we have got top of the league on Saturday.

"But you look at Saturday, our manager Chris Brindley has had to put himself on the bench and probably would have liked to change it, but if you look at our squad it's tiny. There are a few of the lads carrying knocks, so if Jon and Andre are back on Saturday it will be a boost.

"They have been first-team regulars for us this season, I play just in front of Jon and he could be just what we need, because he likes to put his foot in and mix it about a bit."