LIAM George looks set to re-ignite his stop-start Shakers career this weekend, just days after being told he had no future at Gigg Lane.

The midfield ace suffered a downbeat Christmas period, playing no part in the visits of Kidderminster and Hull City after manager Andy Preece learned he could not offer him a new contract.

But, following some shrewd wheeling and dealing by the Bury boss which saw no fewer than four of his first team squad sent out on loan, George will be thrust back into first team action at Swansea on Saturday as he launches his latest bid for a new deal.

And Preece is delighted to be giving the creative midfielder another chance.

"We didn't play Liam in those games because it really did look doubtful whether he would be staying and we had to plan without him," he said.

"But over the past month he has played in four games. We have won them all and he scored in one. So it's great that he's staying.

"He can do a lot better but our thinking was that we have a lot of games coming up, against the likes of Boston and Kidderminster, which could be very tight and someone like Liam can change the game for us.

"He has the ability to get something out of nothing and that's why he's here in the short term."

While Bury's financial constraints are the source of a constant headache for Preece, it places a much stronger personal pressure on the players like George who know their job is on the line every time they take to the field.

Steve Redmond, Lenny Johnrose and Colin Woodthorpe are also all working on a month-by-month basis and Preece praised their patience and loyalty to Bury, when more permanent pastures new must seem tempting.

"It's very difficult for the lads on a month-to-month contract," he sympathised.

"There's no guarantee to them that they will be here much longer but the effort they put in for us is incredible.

"They understand the situation and know that the board and I will be trying our best to keep them here.

"All of them have shown themselves to be very important to the squad and they have to continue that form through the next month."