CRAIG Jones could be ruled out for the season as the full-back continues to struggle with a pelvic injury.

The 29-year-old defender tore his thigh muscle during the win against MK Dons in September and his recovery is set to take longer than first thought.

Jones has featured three times since the initial injury but further inflammation of his pelvic area has forced head coach Chris Brass into allowing the right-back a long period of rest to enable a full recovery.

“Craig will be out until quite late in the season,” Brass told the Bury Times.

“He needs a period of rest and we decided to take it now instead of in the close season to let everything settle so that it will be all right in the long term.

“I hold Craig in the highest regard and it is just unfortunate. It will be touch and go at the end of the season.

“I regard Bury as a family and Craig Jones is part of that family. He will still be in and around the place and helping out in any way that he can.

“His pelvic area has flared up, but nothing surgical is required.

"He is offering his services whether that’s watching players or helping out around the place.”

With Jones’ absence, Brass has moved to cover his defence by signing Taylor Moore and Cameron Burgess, on loan from Bristol City and Fulham respectively, while Reece Brown re-signed on a short-term contract after his deal with Sheffield Untied expired.

Brass moved quickly to shore up his back line, which has conceded the most goals in League One, and he is more than confident his new additions will help them climb back up the table, after dropping into the relegation zone following Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Scunthorpe.

“I am really happy with the three lads that I brought in,” Brass said, ahead of this weekend's match at home to Peterborough.

“I said I wanted to add defensive cover, that was a priority, and I’m glad I’ve been able to do that.

“We have got a good run of games now and it’s time we can start turning performances into results.

“We played the top two teams in the league in the last two games and showed we can compete with them so we are confident going into the game against Peterborough.

“They are in good form and it will be an exciting match. We have got a good run of games now and we are really confident.”