CHRIS Eagles is training with the Under-18s at Bury after failing to make the grade with the first team, manager David Flitcroft has revealed.

The former Wanderers winger signed in October but has struggled with his fitness, making only five appearances.

And Flitcroft confirmed the 30-year-old midfielder would not be considered for selection until his fitness has improved.

"It's not worked out with Chris for what I wanted him to do and for Chris to commit to – it's not worked out," Flitcroft told the Bury FC website.

"He's got his own training programme, he's been training away from the first team.

"He trains with Ryan Kidd, we've got him a training programme and we are trying to get him to a good level of fitness.

"He's not part of the first team squad in terms of training and we are just reviewing that one. He's not injured, but he's just not training with the first-team squad."

Eagles' last appearance for the Shakers was on January 2, when he came off the bench for the final 36 minutes of a 2-0 defeat at Fleetwood.

He has played 129 minutes in total since making his debut for the Gigg Lane outfit in his one and only start at Shrewsbury on October 24.

The midfielder started his career at Manchester United before a successful three-year spell at Burnley, when he scored 25 goals in 144 appearances.

He moved to Wanderers in July 2011, playing in the Premier League and Championship, scoring 19 times in 106 matches.

After being released in the summer of 2014, he went on to play a handful of games for Blackpool and Charlton last season, but had been without a club for five months before signing for Bury.