Maynard full of praise for team-mates as Shakers aim to go top

BURY striker Nicky Maynard has praised his team-mates at helping him adjust to League Two football ahead of tonight’s trip south to take on Cheltenham Town.

The 32-year-old joined the Shakers in the summer and has enjoyed an excellent season, scoring 17 goals in the league.

And the man who has previously played in the Premier League says the transition into this Bury team has been easy.

“In the team I am playing in at the minute, they make it easy for me because we dominate possession most of the time, and play good football,” he said.

“In the higher leagues it can be more technical, more passing and moving. In this league you can sometimes come up against teams who don’t play like that, but you’ve got to adapt your game to whatever team you play against, and we have got good players in the squad who can do that.”

Maynard will almost certainly be involved at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium tonight, where Bury will move to the top of League Two with a win.

Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Macclesfield was a fourth successive in the league, and another this evening will see Ryan Lowe’s side leapfrog Lincoln, who do not have a game, on goal difference.

However, they will face a tricky test against a Cheltenham team that has moved clear of the relegation zone in recent weeks, having won four home games on the bounce.

The Shakers could be boosted by the return of Will Aimson. The defender missed the win over Macclesfield due to an ankle injury picked up in the Checkatrade Trophy defeat to Portsmouth, but Ryan Lowe has confirmed he could come back into the side for tonight’s match.