Stafford Rangers were today looking to bring a new central defender to Marston Road after learning Karl Espley will probably need surgery on his injured groin.

Espley has been having treatment ever since coming off on his debut in Rangers’ first pre-season game against Port Vale on July 9.

The summer signing from Newcastle Town will now have a scan to determine the extent of the injury and the initial prognosis is that he is almost certain to miss the start of the Evo-Stik Premier League season.

Grant Goodhead is also on the sidelines with a broken big toe, leaving Rangers short of cover with just Paul Donnelly, Ryan Dicker and Charlie Reeves as options in the centre of defence.

And manager Greg Clowes admits he may have to make a signing to fill the breach at the back, after explaining the extent of Espley’s injury.

Clowes said: “We actually think that the muscle has grown and attached to the bone, if that’s the case he could be missing for a long time.

“It’s something you just can’t play through, you have got to rest and a lot of treatment on it.

“We need to have a scan and find out exactly what the problem is, but the indication I am getting from the physio is that it’s not good news at all.

“We may have to look outside of the club to cover that problem.”

The Rangers boss has also released Danny Edwards after his trial period, with the midfielder wanting assurances about first-team football that Clowes couldn’t deliver.

Sean Kinsella, Alex Forde, Sean Jones, Jordan Wood, Gareth Barker, James Marsden and Joe Rogers are also still at Marston Road trying to earn a deal.

Clowes admits more will be let go but has promised the trial players a decision within the next week.

He said: I can’t keep everybody and there are lots of players down the pecking order, at the moment, and I have got to be fair to them.

“I have a rough idea of what we are going to be working with and who is not going to take us forward, but I am still open minded about a lot of players.

“I have got to everyone fair crack of the whip and the chance to show what they can offer the supporters.

“But, by the time we play Woodley on Saturday week, we need to be close by then.”