FA Cup fever returned to the JD Stadium this week, with the Under-18s winning through in the Youth Cup on Tuesday night ahead of this Saturday’s visit of Hemel Hempstead Town in the senior competition.

The Youth Cup is a very good yardstick for any U18s side as it provides a good test of not just their skill but also their desire to win.

Quite rightly, the onus is more on the technical development of young players these days, with results put on the backburner.

That is ok for the very young sides, but as Bury’s players approach the first team they must adopt a winning mentality. Under Ryan Kidd, they seem to have the right attitude to force their way into senior reckoning.

I had experience of that at Deepdale when I took over the youth side there. Preston had not produced any homegrown talent for a number of years, but we managed to change it around and eventually had 14 young lads come through the academy to make their first-team debuts.

Some of them became established players at Preston, some moved on to bigger clubs and some, like Bury’s own Danny Mayor, took a step down to get their careers moving.

It may take a while before Flicker is able to bring through his own young players, but I know it is something they are investing a lot of time and energy into.

Of course, this weekend’s FA Cup tie will probably be too soon for the youngsters.

But whatever side Flicker puts out, the players cannot afford to take Hemel Hempstead lightly.

As soon as you let the fact they are a non-league outfit get into your mind that is when you slip up.

It may sound silly, but Bury have to go into the match as if they are playing a Premier League side because that is what is potentially at stake.

I expect the club to go all out to make sure the Hemel Hempstead fans enjoy their big day – their first tie in the first round proper in 74 years – but ensure it remains just that – one day.

Bury’s focus has to be on progression and their own potential payday in the third round.

If they manage to reach that stage then the possible cash bonus could open up a whole new world of possibilities in the transfer market, and give the current crop of youth players a little more time to mature before they are called upon.