Express & Star

Rangers ready to unleash Karl Ashton

Stafford Rangers manager Greg Clowes today challenged his goal-shy side to start firing - as he prepares to unleash Karl Ashton.

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Rangers are the third lowest scorers in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League with just 19 goals in 16 outings, although they have played up to three games less than other teams.

They have the joint-fourth best defence after leaking just 22 goals ahead of Saturday's trip to bottom-of-the-table Eastwood Town.

And, with eight games in December, Clowes wants his 16th-placed side to rediscover their scoring touch to power them up the table.

He said: "Scoring 19 goals in 16 games is nowhere near good enough. At the moment, in the first third of the season, we have not been cut-throat enough in front of goal.

"We have got the fourth-best defence but we are not scoring, so we know what we have to put right.

"We are creating chances and they are falling to the right people, so I would be more worried if we weren't.

"I've got four strikers and Danny Quinn has got 14 goals in all competitions, but he needs to do more elsewhere.

"So do I go with someone who scores or someone who may give more to the team in other areas? That's what I have to think about for Saturday."

Ashton's delayed debut, after he was given time off following a car accident earlier this month, is expected to come on Saturday.

The former Mickleover Sports frontman escaped serious injury in the crash and he could start against rock-bottom Eastwood, who have won just once at home this term.

Clowes hopes Ashton can add something different to his side but admitted he needs time to bed in.

He said: "If Karl does what I have brought him to the club to do then he will score goals. I'm not pinning all my hopes on him but he will give us more physical and aerial threat.

"Whoever is playing alongside him has to work off Karl and when their back four makes a mistake they have to capitalise on that. I don't want to go 'route one' though."

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