Rangers almost back to full strength

Stafford Rangers will be restored to almost full strength for their second home game of the week against Stocksbridge Park Steels at Marston Road.

Liam Walshe and Karl Espley return from two-match suspensions on Saturday, Walshe's from his time at his last club, Mickleover Sports.

Walshe is in line for his competitive Rangers debut in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League, after impressing boss Greg Clowes in pre-season.

Long-term injured duo Sean Kinsella and Jon Sheldon and the banned Peter Heler, who is not match fit anyway, are Rangers' only absentees.

Rangers enjoyed one of their finest home wins over Stocksbridge last season, a 5-1 rout in January, helping earn Clowes Manager of the Month.

Steels manager Chris Wilcox had just taken charge but struck up a rapport with Clowes and the two have shared a mutual respect ever since.

With that in mind, the Rangers boss has warned home supporters - who saw their side lose 1-0 to Grantham in midweek - not to expect a repeat.

He said: "Stocksbridge will be a different outfit this time and I feel they have got goals in them, so we have got to be careful.

"I know their manager, Chris Wilcox, well and he had his first taste of managing at the level like I did last season.

"Like me, he will be picking up on the things that his side need to do to get better, but we are different as well."