New Rangers squad for Vale game

An entire team of new players could take to the field for Stafford Rangers in their first pre-season friendly against Port Vale at Marston Road.

New manager Greg Clowes is expected to name an 18-man squad for tomorrow's game and only Sean Kinsella, who is struggling with a hip injury, has a chance of playing from last season's team.

Grant Goodhead and goalkeeper Tom Turner are also on the books from 2010-11, but Goodhead is out with a broken toe and Turner is likely to lose out to Danny Read between the sticks.

Rangers will also miss left-back John Sheldon with a knee injury, although defender Paul Donnelly is expected to recover from a knock just above his ankle to face his former club.

Another Vale old boy, Danny Edwards, could also play some part as a trialist against the club who released him last year, as could former Rangers midfielder and caretaker boss Kevin Street.

Other trialists who could be involved are right-back Sean Jones, central defender Josh Skidmore and striker Jack Allen.

Clowes has five centre-backs to pick from tomorrow including Skidmore, Donnelly, Ryan Dicker, Karl Espley and Charlie Reeves while the club's only contracted player, midfielder Glynn Blackhurst, is also available.

Equally, the Rangers boss has five strikers who could lead the line in Allen, Liam Shotton, Peter Heler, Alan Nagington and Chris Budrys.

And, with Football League opposition coming to Marston Road, Clowes will be looking for the new-boys to catch his eye.

He said: "All we can do is our best and what I will be looking for is a bit of a benchmark, to see what I have got to do and where I have got to go.

"The pros coming with Port Vale may be under contract, but what you have got to understand is that they will want to prove a point to their manager, Micky Adams.

"There are lads who might be thinking 'I am on the fringes here' but, all of a sudden, you can have a good pre-season and you are on the bench instead of the fringe.

"So they have got just as much as point to prove as my boys have."