Stafford Rangers have extended the loan of Derby County defender Jermaine Johnson for a third month in time for the teenager to play in the festive triple-header coming up.

The Marston Road club can call upon the 19-year-old for Boxing Day’s derby clash at AFC Telford and the return home game on New Years Day, along with Bank Holiday Monday’s visit of relegation rivals Redditch.

Johnson will also be available for the trips to Farsley Celtic on January 9 and to Gainsborough the following Saturday.

Then it will decision time for Rangers and boss Brindley as, under loan regulations, they must either sign him permanently, take him on loan until the end of the season or pack him back off to Pride Park.

The former Chelsea youngster has grown into a first-team fixture in central defence, but whether the club can afford him longer-term is a question that may not be answered until the board address the financial state of play early in the New Year.

But – with big gates expected for the two derby games – it’s not out of the question for the manager.

He said: “Jermaine’s loan has already been renewed, and he can play for us over the festive period. Whether we can do something a bit longer in January remains to be seen, with Stafford Rangers you never know because everything is week-by-week.

“I wouldn’t know, that is a bridge we will cross when we come to it.”