GEORGE Miller admits he still can't quite believe it after scoring his first professional goal for Bury in Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Northampton.

The 18-year-old youth team graduate came off the bench to head the Shakers back into the game, pulling a goal back after they had gone 3-0 down.

A second followed from Zeli Ismail, but while the Bolton-born nephew of former Premier League referee Mark Halsey was unable to inspire a comeback, Miller was happy to repay some of the faith shown in him by manager David Flitcroft.

“It's a bit surreal,” Miller said, after scoring his first goal in only his second career appearance.

“We have a lot of top pros and top people, I'm just happy to get my chance.

"It will probably take a few days to sink in but nobody can take this away from me, I'm so happy.

“It was good to get my first goal but obviously the result and everything around it wasn't the best.

“It takes the gloss off a little bit because we needed the win and we didn't get it.

"We all now need to get around the gaffer and hopefully do our best.

"Everyone is working for him so I don't see why we can't turn this around.”

Miller's progression to the first team has not been straight forward.

After being handed his debut from the bench against Barnsley in February, the former pupil at St James' High School in Bolton required surgery on a nasty knee injury picked up in training.

But after battling back to full fitness, the forward is now ready to make his mark on the first team.

Flitcroft caught everybody off guard by replacing the injured Tom Soares, who was playing at right-back, with the striker.

But he was never going to be used as a makeshift defender, and looked at home alongside experienced front man James Vaughan.

“The right-back went down so I thought 'are you throwing us on at right-back here', but anyway I got my chance and I'm glad the gaffer gave me this opportunity,” Miller added.

“Vaughany was sort of mentoring me. He told me to get into the box as soon as the ball went wide. I did and Dannsy (Neil Danns) put it on the money and I just headed it in.

“It's like you're in awe of Vaughany, never mind playing with him.

"You learn from him. Not many players get to play in front of all these people.”