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Published: 04:32 EDT, 6 December 2023 | Updated: 04:32 EDT, 6 December 2023

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Robbie Savage's ambitious Macclesfield FC have courted former Premier League stars as they bid to climb the English football pyramid.

Macclesfield FC, a phoenix club of Macclesfield Town, have begun their ascent at rapid pace after back-to-back promotions since starting out in the North West Counties Premier Division back in 2020.

Savage, Macclesfield's director of football, installed former Hull City defender - and son of ex-Birmingham and Newcastle boss Steve Bruce - Alex Bruce as the club's manager at the end of October.

While the side had ex-Magpie Papiss Cisse training with them last month following his release from French side Amiens SC in the summer and snapped up Everton flop Oumar Niasse on a short-term deal.

On Tuesday, ahead of their Cheshire Senior Cup clash against Tranmere, the club announced that Danny Simpson would be part of their matchday squad.

Robbie Savage is director of football at Macclesfield FC and he is always trying to raise the bar

The 36-year-old came through the academy at Man United before making eight appearances for the club before his departure in 2010

Simpson was a crucial part of the unlikely Leicester City that won the Premier League in 2016

Oumar Niasse bagged a hat-trick in Macclesfield's 4-2 win against Tranmere on Tuesday

The 36-year-old, who is studying for his coaching badges at Old Trafford, has been a free agent since leaving Bristol City in 2022 and revealed last month that he was training with Savage's outfit.

'No one even knows this but I train at Macclesfield twice a week,' he said on the Filthy Fellas podcast. 'I have some kind of get up to go to a training ground with the lads, train and kick a football.

'I needed somewhere to go before I started helping with the coaching stuff at United, because I was lost for six months.'

The Silkmen ran out 4-2 winners against Tranmere on Tuesday night thanks to a hat-trick from Niasse. Simpson lasted 78 minutes in his first appearance for the club.