Tom Thorley believes that his new midfield partner Michael Burns can become the next Stafford Rangers loan star after the pair’s first start together.

Both were pivotal in the middle of the park during Saturday’s 1-0 win against Harrogate, the team’s third Blue Square North win on the trot, with Thorley scoring the winner in the second-half.

Burns made his debut after signing for a month from League One Carlisle and has great pedigree, after coming through the youth systems at Liverpool and Bolton.

Thorley comes from the same sort of background, and first came to the club last season as a young player from Premier League Stoke in search of first-team experience.

The 19-year-old made such an impact in three separate months on loan from the Britannia Stadium that he decided to leave the professional game and join permanently in the summer, instead devoting his day-to-day time to a three-year Sports Science degree at the University of Worcester.

Burns may be looking to stay full-time but his path to the first-team at Rangers is less blocked than at his parent club, after captain Bobby Wilson and Jake Moult left for Australian club Stirling Lions and league rivals Alfreton respectively, although veteran Tony Dinning is on is way back from injury.

And Thorley feels that Carlisle’s loss could be Rangers’ gain.

He said: “Michael did well on Saturday and got better as the game wore on, and I think he will be a good signing for the club. Maybe we can keep hold of him for a little longer, because you can tell he is a good player. It’s even better that Tony Dinning is coming back, because that will add a bit of competition to that area.

“It wasn’t looking too good in that department when Bobby and Jake left, but it seems to have turned out OK.”

Thorley and his team-mates are riding the crest of a wave after three wins in a row for the first time in manager Chris Brindley’s 13 months in charge, a run that has propelled the team into the top 10.

But the midfielder revealed the manager is keeping the players feet on the ground, especially with second-placed Southport next up at Marston Road on Saturday.

He said: “It’s been a good period, we have turned the season around completely. But, after each game, the gaffer has told us not to get carried away because the main goal is still to stay up.

“But confidence is high and we are all looking forward to Saturday. It’s about time we beat Southport, they have turned us over a couple of times since I have been here and we owe them one.”