CONCORD Rangers manager Adam Flanagan says he believes the return of striking duo Tony Stokes and Jordan Chiedozie will help fire his team to new heights this term.

The pair returned at the start of the month, as Flanagan looks to drag the Beach Boys away from the foot of the National League South standings.

Concord have just eight goals in 13 league matches to date but Stokes, who re-joins from rivals Canvey Island having netted eight times this season, and Chiedozie, who famously scored for Concord at Mansfield in the FA Cup in 2014, will form a fearsome triumvirate alongside Steve Cawley.

And Flanagan says both have already had an impact, with Stokes netting minutes into his return against Hungerford.

“Both are great signings for the club,” he said. “Jordan is wiser for the professional experience he has gained and hopefully he will give us that cutting edge which has been missing in the matches we have had so far this season.

“Stokesy, no disrespect to Canvey, is a Concord lad so it is like he has come home. He now becomes part of a fierce strike force with Jordan and Steve and I think the three of them can push one another onto new levels and really cause defences problems this year.

“When players of Jordan’s calibre come along we will try our best to bring them in. To be honest I thought Jordan was out of our price range but we were able to put something together that he was happy with.

“As for Stokesy, we heard Bishop’s Stortford were interest in him and that he wanted to speak with them so figured he might still be interested in playing at a higher level and we spoke with him.”

Concord head to Margate on Saturday looking to turn around their season and Flanagan says he wants his three strikers to help each other push Concord to safety.

Former captain Stokes and Chiedozie, who played in the Football League for Cambridge United after departing Concord, are expected to add leadership to the ranks, something Flanagan admits his side needs.

“I said to Stokesy when we spoke that we have two other forwards at the club in Steve and Jordan and the idea was to build an environment with the three of them where they have healthy competition between one another," he said.

“He is a former skipper so he is a leader, and a winner, and we will need these attributes in the dressing room as we come together and move forward.

“He knows he will have to work his way into the starting XI but if he scores goals and plays well and either Jordan or Steve are quiet then I will give him a start.

“Jordan has been great around the dressing room since he came back, offering advice to the younger players and pushing the older ones to offer more. He has been like a breath of fresh air.”

Concord have also added attacker Emmanuel Ighorae from Aveley.