BURY boss David Flitcroft admits Hallam Hope’s three-and-a-half-year deal is possibly a risk, but it is one he believes was worth taking.

The 20-year-old former England Under-19s international sealed a permanent move from Everton for an undisclosed fee on New Year’s Day.

He narrowly missed a chance to toast his switch with a goal at Dagenham last Saturday, extending his run without scoring to eight matches since he joined Bury on loan in November.

Hope’s barren spell actually stretches back 13 games, including an ill-feted loan stay at Championship club Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the season.

He last found the net while playing at the JD Stadium during a previous loan spell, putting three past Portsmouth in the final home game of the last campaign to take his tally to five goals in eight matches.

And Flitcroft is confident his young signing will soon reach those heights again.

“I think potentially it is (a long contract) but with Hallam at his age and what we believe he is going to become I think it is a really progressive signing for the football club,” he said.

“He is someone who will certainly get better with games and will get better with age.

“There is quite a long way to go to get him to that point but we have got an environment that can do that.

“We have got coaches that can help develop his career and develop him into a top class player for us.

“That’s what we will get and I am in no doubt that when he scores his first goal things will settle for him and he is going to be a fantastic signing for this football club.”

The capture of the Toffees front man represents the culmination of a nine-month chase.

It was hoped the former Manchester City academy player would agree to a permanent signing in the summer, before Sheffield Wednesday gazumped the deal with the offer of a season-long loan.

His move to Hillsborough did not work out, however, and after he returned to Goodison in November Flitcroft was quick to pounce.

“We have worked hard behind the scenes to get the Hallam one done and it is a deal that definitely takes us forward,” added the Shakers manager, who has started Hope in the last few matches following initial problems with his fitness.

The young striker is expected to once again partner Ryan Lowe up front for tomorrow night's trip to neighbours Accrington Stanley after Flitcroft revealed his other available striker, Danny Rose, was suffering from burnout.

"We have flogged Danny Rose, we have completely flogged him," he said.

"Nards (Danny Nardiello) is out and has been injured quite a lot and Ryan Lowe had a period out with a hernia problem, so he has been playing Saturday/Tuesday, Saturday/Tuesday.

"We need to build him back to where he was. The kid has been tired, he's been worn out.

"We are here to protect players. He is a long-term investment, he is the long-term future of the club and over the next six months we have got young dynamic players (in Hope and Rose) who will provide goals for this football club."