Glynn Blackhurst ruled out for Rangers

Stafford Rangers have sent Glynn Blackhurst to a back specialist after ruling the midfielder out of the trip to FC United of Manchester.

Blackhurst will be paying for his own treatment as he searches for a cure to the problem that has ruled him out of the last two games.

Karl Espley is also due to see a back specialist but is playing through the pain, with captain Paul Donnelly set to return after suspension.

Michael Morton and Fabrice Kasiama are still injured, while Anthony Maguire and Alan Nagington are away on their respective honeymoons.

All in all, Rangers boss Greg Clowes is without five players but, after winning at then-league leaders Northwich earlier this season, is upbeat.

He said: "We will going up to FC United of Manchester to win the game, simple as that.

"The lads have already shown me they can go to a top side and win. We won't be negative, we will be positive."

FC United are climbing the table again after stalling towards the end of last year, having reached the play-offs last season.

But Clowes expects them to come on strong and mount a promotion challenge in the second-half of the campaign.

He said: "This will be where FC United of Manchester start to make their claim for the play-off spots, they do it every year.

"They always start slowly, they have been quite patchy up until now but I think you will now see them starting their challenge.

"It will be a decent pitch, no disrespect to Marston Road but you can't play football on that pitch, at the moment."