STAFFORD Rangers striker Karl Ashton looks set to miss the rest of the season after sustaining a serious injury on Tuesday night.
The forward, who joined the Marston Road ranks from Mickleover in November, broke his ankle when stretching for the ball midway through the first half of the league game against Witton Albion.
Ashton was stretchered off and taken to hospital where the full extent of his injury was diagnosed.
The loss of Ashton, who has made a big impact at Stafford, is a major blow to manager Greg Clowes’ hopes of reaching the Evo Stik play-offs this season.
With last weekend’s trip to lowly Stocksbridge Park Steels postponed due to a frozen pitch, Rangers shared the points in a rare goalless draw at Marston Road in midweek.
It was a match that saw young on-loan Crewe keeper Ben Garratt make his Boro debut, but recent new signings, Chris Flynn and Christian Smith have yet to start.
However, both are included in the squad for Saturday’s home game against fourth place Marine (3pm). Next Thursday, Rangers entertain Rushall Olympic in the quarter finals of the Walsall Senior Cup (7.45pm).
While Luke George completes a four match suspension this weekend, fellow defender Jimmy Turner has two more of a three-match ban to go and misses Marine and the away game at Buxton on March 9.
Rangers have re-arranged the away game at Stocksbridge for Tuesday, April 9 (7.45pm).
