GORDON Armstrong is ready to kick start his injury-hit Bury career.

The ex-Sunderland midfielder finally looks to be over the recurring back-related hamstring strain which has so far prevented him from making the big impact expected after the Shakers beat off a host of rivals to clinch his signing in the summer.

He returned to the senior set-up after several weeks of treatment for the last five minutes of Saturday's convincing 2-0 victory at York City which put Bury firmly back in the promotion picture in their first game for 15 days.

And with skipper David Pugh out for the season with a double arm fracture, the experienced Armstrong's return could scarcely have been better timed.

He will provide stern competition for Manchester United starlet John O'Kane during his loan spell and be the ideal man to step into the left sided defensive position when O'Kane returns to Old Trafford.

Bury were today catching up on match practice lost during the recent big freeze by playing a friendly against a Manchester United X1 behind closed doors.

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