BURY'S star striker Leon Clarke has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.

The club's top scorer has 18 goals to his name this campaign despite dipping in and out of the squad through injury and personal matters.

But now the forward is set for a spell on the sidelines again after picking up a knock against Scunthorpe last week.

Manager David Flitcroft said: “It was against Scunthorpe, he has rolled his ankle and then got a whack second half outside of his ligament.

“He is in a boot at the minute, it is not a cast, he is in an air boot and he'll probably in that for 10 days.

“It will probably be about four weeks when he's back in. He seems to get going again and then we miss him.”

Bury are already without skipper Nathan Cameron (knee) and goalkeeper Rob Lainton (groin) after they picked up long-term injuries earlier in the season.

But with the Shakers clear of relegation, the final two games against Chesterfield and Southend will give the chance to fellow forwards Tom Pope, Ryan Lowe and Danny Rose to shine.

However, it is still unclear if midfielder Andrew Tutte (hamstring) and right-back Joe Riley (back) will play any part in the final two matches.

Jacob Mellis could be involved in this Saturday's clash against the Spireites after recovering from his ankle injury suffered against Peterborough two months ago.

“Tuttey (Andrew Tutte) no. Joe (Riley), he's getting closer,” Flitcroft said. “He's sort of at the end stage of rehab. He's doing more work and getting work in the tank but when it comes to the football and the striking there is just a little impingement there.

“Mells is probably the closest out of the injured players. I'm glad for Mells because he has put one hell of a shift in over the last three weeks.

“He has really got his head down and given himself a great chance to be involved in the last couple of games.”