FORMER fans' favourite Dave Johnson returns to Gigg Lane tomorrow to try and dent Bury's bid for survival.

The star striker, who joined Ipswich Town in a £1m deal in November 1997, is in red hot form for his new club.

He has blasted in 21 goals since his move to Portman Road, helping catapult Town into the promotion play-off places.

Amazingly, Johnson is still Bury's top goalscorer this season with eight - one ahead of Tony Battersby - and he is sure to receive a warm reception from the terraces tomorrow.

But the same might not be said for his former teammates and coaching staff who have been shocked by a controversial article published in a football fanzine.

Johnson is quoted making disparaging remarks about his former club in the Ipswich fan-mag 'Those Were The Days.'

Included in the story, the 21-year-old is reported criticising Bury's coaching techniques in comparison to his previous club Manchester United.

Shakers manager Stan Ternent refused to comment on the fanzine article, preferring for his side to do their talking on the pitch.

He said: "All I will say is that David came here on a free transfer and we sold him for £1m - so we must have done something right!

"We helped turn him into a top player. That is blatantly obvious.

"We welcome him back. He was a good player for us and we were sorry to lose him, but it was necessary."

Ternent is keen for his men to finally secure their Division One futures in tomorrow's clash.

And despite an injury-free squad to select from, he was keeping tight-lipped about his starting line-up yesterday.

"I don't want it to go down to the last game of the season at Queens Park Rangers, but if that is what it takes then so be it," he said.

"I would much rather us get something from the Ipswich game and meet my 50 point target this weekend."

The Shakers are still sitting one point adrift of that half century mark and it will take a mammoth effort to halt the march of George Burley's men.

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