SHAKERS' midfielder Brian Barry-Murphy could make his long awaited return from injury this weekend as Bury prepare to take on form-club Cheltenham Town in League Two (3pm).

The talented Irishman is back in full training after suffering knee ligament damage which required surgery last month.

He will strengthen manager Chris Casper's hand ahead of what is sure to be a tricky encounter with the Robins.

Town, who defeated the Shakers 2-1 on the opening day of the season, have won three of their last four away games at Northampton Town, Lincoln City and Notts County and on Friday hammered Lincoln City 4-1 in the return game at Whaddon Road.

Casper is well aware of their threat and will welcome the return of the schemer.

"We know how difficult it will be against Cheltenham but we must be confident in ourselves and look to the good performances we've been putting in," he said.

"We'll show them the respect they deserve but all the lads have done themselves credit in recent weeks, they've worked hard on the pitch and in training, they deserve their rewards.

"Brian's return would give us more competition and that's just what we need.

"Hopefully it will be a good open game, we've been involved in one or two of them recently and the feedback from our fans has been good."

Barry-Murphy is one of four current first-teamers who have been out of action in recent weeks.

Both defender Lee Unsworth (groin) and striker Allan Smart (knee) have returned after a week at the FA's Lilleshall Rehabilitation Centre and have been making good progress with Unsworth likely to be the first of the two to return while striker Jon Newby is recovering after an achilles operation.

The only other doubt for the weekend's game surrounds on-loan striker Danny Reet.

Reet has recovered from the gashed leg sustained in the FA Cup replay defeat at Scunthorpe last Tuesday but has been suffering from tonsilitis this week but Casper will give him every chance to prove his fitness ahead of the game.

Thursday (Nov 24) marked the deadline for emergency loans until January's transfer window and Casper was looking to extend the 18-year-old goal poacher's stay at Gigg for another month at least.

"Danny's a good lad and has fitted in very well with us," he said.

"He's popular in the dressing room, has worked very hard and he's quite happy to stay with us."

The Cheltenham match should have been the second of two home games in eight days but the disappointing postponement of last weekend's Rushden & Diamonds clash hopefully won't have taken the wind out of the Shakers' sails.

Casper admitted that it was a sickener not to have had the chance to pick up three more crucial points but reckoned no blame should be cast in the direction of groundsman Mike Curtis.

"I really felt for Mike because of the tireless work he put in to get the game on," he declared.

"He was really up against it because the stand on the far side always causes us problems, it would be out of order to blame him.

"Hopefully the new covers we've brought in this week will prevent future games being postponed."

Cheltenham's LDV Vans Trophy tie at Woking was abandoned due to thick fog on Tuesday evening with the Robins 2-1 in front.

Jamie Victory shot them in front before the Kingsmead side clawed themselves back level through Liam Cockerill.

Steven Gillespie, on loan from Bristol City, put John Ward's men back in front before the 'pea-souper' halted proceedings.