SHAKERS boss Andy Preece will this week be putting his mind to a goalscoring conundrum.
Only five goals have been scored by forwards in the first ten games of the season and as Preece points out that's a figure that needs a rapid improvement.
The club's leading scorer is midfielder Darren Bullock with four and Preece is wondering whether changes may be needed if the club are to maintain their good start to the campaign.
"That return just isn't good enough for a team that's playing pretty well," he said.
"It could be the system we're playing but I think we're creating enough chances. We just need people to be dying to get on the end of balls in the box.
"It's something we've got to get sorted, for whether we change the front men or the system we need to get the right blend.
"It's getting the right two. When Ady (Littlejohn) and Bhaichung (Bhutia) played well together we created a good number of chances but they still haven't scored the volume of goals they should do.
"But the statistics are showing that we are fourth in the table for our shots on target.
"We just need to sharpen up our finishing and that's what we'll be working on this week."
One Bury striker who won't be testing his shooting boots on the Shakers training ground this week is Lee Buggie.
The 20-year-old reserve team striker has joined Rochdale on a month's loan but Preece is quick to point out that he is in no way looking to off-load the Bury-born player.
"We have a big squad with a lot of young players in it and this gives Lee a great opportunity to get some Football League experience," he said.
"I haven't ruled out letting some of our other youngsters go out on loan to league clubs, it will benefit them greatly and they will come back to us better players."
Buggie was on the substitutes' bench at Spotland on Saturday when the 'Dale picked up a 2-1 victory over Torquay that shot them into second place in the Third Division table.
While Buggie heads eastwards along the A58, another 20-year-old, Warren Paynton, is travelling in the opposite direction.
The midfielder, released by Rochdale last season, has impressed Preece with some good performances in the reserves and has been offered a six months contract.
He is joined by former Huddersfield Town youngster Ryan Crossley, also 20, who is a central defender who can also play on the left.
"Both these lads have a chance to show just what they can do," said Preece.
"Another youngster, Jason Jarrett, has forced himself into the first team squad after a trial spell so there's no reason why they can't do the same."
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