BAICHUNG Bhutia's hopes of playing for Bury increased last night as the Shakers prepared for today's appeal date in Manchester. Bury North MP David Chaytor has given his full backing to Bury's bid to land Bhutia and the Professional Footballers' Association, who are represented on today's appeal panel, are also not totally against Bhutia's application.

A spokesman for the PFA said: "If Bury do use the argument that Bhutia's signing would help promote the game within the Asian communities over here it would do their case no harm at all.

"There are thousands and thousands of youngsters playing the game out there at grass roots level, but for some reason their path into the professional game is being blocked. There isn't an Asian-born player in the game over here.

"It is important that we try to redress the balance, while at the same time ensure that it is not preventing our own youngsters coming through.

"If Bury can prove that Bhutia has made an impact over in India and that they could not find a player of a similar standard over here they are in with chance." A Lancashire hotpot with added spice is on the menu for the Shakers when they make the short trip to Oldham for tomorrow's derby clash.

With four former Oldham players in the Shakers first team, Paul Reid, Steve Redmond, Adrian Littlejohn and loan ace Lee Richardson, and enough faces still at Boundary Park from Neil Warnock's days as boss, there should be no quarter given or asked come 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

Warnock describes the match as a real no-win game, with struggling Oldham without a point from their first five matches, but sure to be fired-up against their former boss.

"I've said to the players that they should forget the league table - it's just a case of who wants to win more on the day in games like these," he said.

"They may have no points, but I saw them against Preston earlier in the season and they were very unlucky.

"One thing's for sure, it will be a very exciting game because we go out to attack teams home and away and up to now haven't kept a clean sheet in the league. It makes games more enjoyable, but I must have our fans biting their nails a bit more!"

Warnock will rely on the personnel that ended Luton Town's 100 per cent home record last weekend with striker Carlos Rocha likely to shake off a niggling ankle problem. The American picked up a brace of goals in the reserves 6-0 demolition of Rochdale reserves on Wednesday with Paul Barnes (2), Danny Swailes and Dean Barrick also on the scoresheet.

Barnes' appearance was his first major step back to full fitness, but he is still a couple of matches short of a first team call-up.

Andy Preece had a scan and saw a specialist on Tuesday about his knee and back problem and he is out of full time training for about three weeks, however, it shouldn't keep him out of the first team reckoning.

"I know exactly how hard tomorrow's game will be and if we aren't up for it we will get turned over, it's a big test for a few people," admitted Warnock.

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