FORMER York City forward Michael Rankine has admitted his old striking partner Richard Brodie’s one-match suspension is a big boost for tonight’s opponents Guiseley.

Rankine was Brodie’s foil when the latter plundered 37 goals at National League level for the Minstermen in 2009/10.

The ex-Newcastle Benfield attacker is also City’s leading marksman this season having netted in five successive matches earlier in the campaign.

But Brodie is sidelined for the Nethermoor Park clash after receiving his fifth booking of the season for dissent during Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Aldershot.

Rankine, meanwhile, is expected to lead the line for win-less, bottom-of-the-table outfit Guiseley, having recovered from a recent injury and pointed out that Brodie will always be a threat in the Conference - if used correctly.

“If he (Brodie) is anything like before, then it’s definitely a boost for us that he won’t be involved,” the 31-year-old Rankine said. “I also played with him a couple of times when we were together at Hereford and people have tried to change his game a little bit.

“In my opinion, he’s not a target man and he does his damage by getting in behind defences because he’s such a great, composed finisher and, if he’s at any club, you need to get him back to that because he’s only 29, which isn’t a massive age. If you do get him back to that, then you’ve got one hell of a player on your hands because, what he did the season we played together at York, was phenomenal.”

Rankine is now hoping to be given the chance to forge an understanding with another ex-City forward Adam Boyes at Guiseley, where the pair have been limited to brief stints together this term.

“I’ve only started seven games and come off at half-time in one, so I haven’t played too much with Adam,” Rankine pointed out. “There have been a couple of different combinations up front.

“Me and Richard Brodie played lots of games together for York and you need that time to gel. Adam’s a good player, who can get up and mix it with the best of them so, hopefully, we can play together more now.”

Rankine is also relishing the prospect of taking on his old club and feels he is now ready for the challenge after a season of fitness problems and squad tinkering.

“I’m looking forward to the match,” he explained. “Everyone knows, without being too cheesy, that York remains close to my heart and I love the club, but we are targeting every game now at Guiseley and we’ve got to start getting points.

“We’re not far off and I’d like to be playing more of a part in things than I have recently, but I damaged my back on the dreaded Astroturf at Maidstone. There’s also been a lot of disruption with the previous manager leaving and rotation in the squad, but I’m fit and raring to go now.”

Rankine went on to confess that it has surprised him how the Yorkshire neighbours have both struggled as clubs this term.

“It surprises me where York are, because I always thought the club was moving in the right direction,” he added. “I came back during the first season back in the League on loan from Aldershot, but didn’t do myself justice because I wasn’t fit or ready to play.

“Then, the new manager came in and I was gone. It’s a shame both clubs are where they are, because I came to Guiseley thinking we could do something similar to Braintree last season and get in the play-offs.

“That’s not worked and it’s not been the best start for either club, but you’ve got to try and make that change.”