Rangers rule out Fabrice Kasiama

Stafford Rangers winger Fabrice Kasiama was today ruled out of the club's festive schedule after failing to respond to treatment on a knee injury.

Kasiama has already been out for a month after being clattered by Mitchell Tolley in Rangers' 2-1 derby defeat at Rushall Olympic on November 26.

Now manager Greg Clowes has admitted it will be 2012 before the DR Congo wide man will be back in action, with the 21-year-old yet to resume training since suffering the injury.

Clowes also has Michael Morton sidelined indefinitely with a hamstring strain, although fellow midfielder Kevin Street came through Tuesday night's training session after a back problem.

In addition, Karl Espley and Peter Heler return from suspension for Boxing Day's trip to Nantwich, where Clowes will again have to patch up Jon Sheldon to cover Kasiama's absence.

The Rangers boss said: "There's no way with Fabrice, he's not responding to treatment and he's not getting any better.

"The swelling hasn't fully come out and he isn't training, he's hobbling around still.

"There's nobody who wants to see Fabrice in action more than me and the Stafford Rangers fans know what he can do.

"But, unfortunately, it doesn't look like he's going to be pulling a shirt for a few games."

Sheldon was on the bench for Saturday's win over Frickley at Marston Road, but needs a clean-up operation on his knee.

The 24-year-old is set to go under the knife in the New Year but, as a like-for-like replacement for Kasiama, will continue to fill a hole in the squad until then.

Clowes said: "Jon was on the bench for us on Saturday and he's due to have an operation in the New Year.

"We are still playing him because it's not going to make him any worse.

"We have a situation where Jon where he will be available for the next three of four games and then could be out for a few months.

"It's one of those injuries where he can either withstand the pain or he can't and, at the moment, he's OK.

"But we know, sooner rather than later, that he will be struggling again."