By Neil Bonnar BURY today proved their huge ambition to save their First Division lives when they recruited two Premiership reserves into their First Division relegation dogfight.

Newcastle defender Carl Serrant and Coventry striker Paul Hall arrived on one-month loan deals which will keep them at Gigg Lane for almost half this season's run-in.

"I think both players can do a good job for us over a month which includes seven games," declared Shakers boss Neil Warnock.

Serrant, 23, signed for Newcastle from Oldham last season for a cut price £500,000 shortly before he would have been able to leave on a free under the Bosman ruling and quicksilver 26-year-old Hall - who played for Jamaica in the World Cup Finals in France - arrived at Highfield Road from Portsmouth for £375,000 also last season.

On Serrant, who has England U-21 and 'B' caps, Warnock enthused: "I believe he's the best crosser of the ball with his left foot that I've ever seen. Coming here is a chance for him to show everyone just what he can do.

"This wasn't just about bringing players in, they had to be the right players - lads with quality and the right attitude.

"Both Paul and Carl wanted to come straight away. They have something to prove to their clubs and are raring to get out on the pitch."

Both men go straight into the side at home to Norwich tomorrow when joint £200,000 record signing Darren Bullock will make his debut in midfield and skipper Chris Lucketti returns after missing the last two games with a thigh injury.

Warnock added: "I think we've now got the staff to give teams a real game and I'm hoping we can get a run going, starting tomorrow.

"It's no good kidding ourselves, this is a game we must win. All the pundits are all saying we're going down, but there's only one way we're going to get out of that and that's by rolling our sleeves up."

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