BURY FC boss Andy Preece will this week step up his player search in the wake of Glenn Whelan's departure from Gigg Lane.

The Manchester City midfielder's loan spell with the club came to an end after Saturday's fine 2-1 victory at Bristol Rovers.

He now joins up with the Republic of Ireland's Under-20 squad competing in the FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

The talented Dubliner, who has been highly influential since joining the club at the end of September, is keen to return to Gigg Lane after the tournament but in the meantime Preece has a gap to fill if he wants his resurgent side to continue moving up the Third Division table.

With the Gigg Lane side restricted to a one-in, one-out arrangement another loan player looks the likely answer.

"We're eager to bring Glenn back," explained Preece.

"He's been a key player for us and we'll certainly feel his loss, but we'll be looking to bring someone in some time this week.

"We have to decide whether it's a straight replacement for Glenn or we could bring in someone in another position after losing Harpal Singh.

"There's no point being blas about the situation we know we have to try and overcome losing them."

The manager has one or two irons in the fire and expects to welcome someone into the fold ahead of Saturday's visit of Northampton Town.

Preece was delighted with Saturday's victory in the south west following, as it did, the miserable FA Cup defeat at the hands of local rivals Rochdale a week earlier.

And he believes that too much may have been made of the Dale defeat given the impressive run of results his charges have been putting in on the league front.

The Shakers are only one point behind the total they amassed after eighteen games last season when the popular opinion was they'd made a good start.

"We are absolutely flying at the moment in the league," he said.

"That's three victories in our last three away games and four wins out of six you have to be pleased.

"That said, we aren't getting carried away, we are having to work very hard for our wins.

"They aren't coming easy but the way we are coming back from one goal deficits shows just what a good character there is in the squad.

"The place was buzzing before the Rochdale game and I was told that defeat had left everyone depressed.

"Of course we were all bitterly disappointed to go out of the cup to our local rivals but you have to look at the bigger picture.

"To only be a point behind where we were at this stage last term is very encouraging.

"Everyone deserves a pat on the back for their efforts, the players, staff and not forgetting the fans.

"They have been behind us all season and appreciate the situation the club is in. They will always get behind the team as long as the players give their all.

"It was fantastic to celebrate Saturday's win with them. They travel all over spending their hard earned money and it was great to reward them with a rare win at Bristol."

Knee injury victims Matt Barrass and George Clegg were both on the substitutes bench at the Memorial Ground and they get another chance to take a major step back to full fitness when the reserves take on Bolton Wanderers second string in the Manchester Senior Cup at Gigg Lane tomorrow evening (7pm).

Bury have also filled the fixture gap created by that FA Cup defeat and will now travel to face league leaders Hull City on Saturday, December 6.

The game has been brought forward from Tuesday, March 2, 2004.