SHAKERS' caretaker manager Chris Casper has been too busy to be nervous ahead of Saturday's trip to Oxford United.

Talk about being thrown into the deep end!

Monday's decision to ask the 30-year-old youth team coach to take over first team affairs following the sacking of Graham Barrow came out of the blue for the former Manchester United and Reading defender.

But it's a job he's prepared to tackle with the professional relish of someone with footballing blood coursing through his veins.

Casper, son of former Bury FC assistant manager Frank, at least has the advantage of knowing on a day-to-day basis the players he is charged with marshalling.

And he is confident there won't be any long faces when he picks his starting eleven for the game at the Kassam Stadium at the weekend.

"There will be no problems with the players, there are no troublemakers in the side," he explained.

"They owe it to themselves and the club to go forward, in fact we are all responsible.

"Graham was a popular guy who did a fantastic job here and there isn't much of a problem with the team, it's just a matter of confidence.

"I have my own ideas and it'll be a case of just tinkering and getting the players to believe in themselves again.

"The club has to carry on functioning, we have to focus on Oxford this Saturday and that's what we'll be doing."

The Burnley-born coach, whose blossoming career was cut short by a serious leg injury five years ago, isn't even contemplating throwing in his hat for the vacant manager's post just yet.

While possible candidates have been bombarding Gigg Lane with CVs over the past few days, he is quietly getting on with the job of preparing the team for the weekend.

"I haven't really thought about applying," he added.

"I suppose my application will be seen in the next few games but the club know I am here if they need me.

"There's a lot of things going on in my mind at present and I am not the number one priority.

"The club cannot function without the players, they are the most important.

"We have to make sure they are settled and focused for a big game on Saturday."

Casper, whose youth team duties will be overseen by assistant Chris Beech, got off to a winning start on Monday evening when the reserves defeated Rochdale 1-0 at Spotland in a Lancashire County Cup clash.

Tom Youngs grabbed the all-important goal for the Shakers but he singled out another player for special praise on the night, Barrow's son James.

After an upsetting day for his family the 19-year-old showed true professionalism to play his part in a fine victory.

"James has always had a good attitude and it showed on the night," said Casper.

"The first thing I did was speak to him and make sure he was okay.

"I have been in that situation myself when my dad has been sacked and it's not very nice.

"I think he took all the emotion on the day onto the field with him, he handled it really well."

With striker Allan Smart suspended and Jon Newby (hamstring) still out injured it could mean a starting berth for the evergreen Stuart Barlow at the Kassam Stadium.

Utility man Lee Unsworth is also missing after having a hernia operation on Monday and is expected to be missing for two months.