Grant Goodhead in Rangers lay-off

Stafford Rangers have added a friendly with local rivals AFC Telford to their pre-season schedule - but defender Grant Goodhead could miss the start of the campaign.

Rangers have arranged to play the Bucks at Marston Road on August 1, after cancelling a game at Ashton Athletic on August 2.

Both were in the same division last season before heading in separate directions out of the Blue Square North, Rangers relegated to the Evo-Stik Premier League and Telford promoted to the Blue Square Premier.

A competitive local derby between the two could be, at least, a season away and a friendly offers an early chance to renew old rivalries.

But Goodhead is likely to miss the game and probably all of pre-season, after breaking his big toe at home which has had to be reset.

Left-back Jon Sheldon also faces an injury lay-off while he has acupuncture on a troublesome knee problem, but is suspended for the first three games of next season anyway.

Both have yet to kick a ball this summer and, for Goodhead, it represents another set-back, after problems with his hernia over the last two seasons which resulted in surgery.

However, manager Greg Clowes has assured Goodhead he will get his chance at Marston Road when he returns to fitness.

The Rangers boss said: "I have reassured Grant that he has a future at Stafford Rangers, because he could throw a spanner in the works.

"I have seen him play and I think he's just as good as what I have got, but he's got to be fit. If his fitness levels aren't there, he's not going to be any good to me.

"We are OK for centre-halves but I believe that he is as good as any of them, he's a good kid and I do rate him.

"He's an old fashioned centre-half, he sees the ball and goes and wins it."