DAVE Flitcroft is set for a quick return to the Bury starting eleven for Saturday's clash at Shrewsbury Town.

The combative midfielder is available again following his one-match suspension picked up for a red card awarded against Kidderminster on Bank Holiday Monday.

Shakers' boss Graham Barrow believes Flitcroft's absence had a detrimental effect on the team last weekend, resulting in a disappointing 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Lincoln City.

With that in mind, Barrow will again link up the former Chester, Rochdale and Macclesfield man with Dwayne Mattis and Brian Barry-Murphy, in what has been a highly effective engineroom.

The unlucky Terry Dunfield will make way for Flitcroft, but as Barrow pointed out it's no slight on the Canadian's display last week, rather a clash of styles.

"The balance didn't look right to me against Lincoln," he said.

"I don't think Dwayne (Mattis) and Murph (Brian Barry-Murphy) felt secure enough to go forward as Terry (Dunfield) is similar and likes to push on.

"In the end we had three attacking players, albeit with differing styles, and none of them got forward.

"Sometimes people have to be missing to really appreciate what they bring to the team.

"Dave (Flitcroft) gives the two other lads the licence to push on a bit and he can drive the team forward too."

There could also be a recall for defender Matt Barrass, who is set to replace Lee Unsworth in the right wing-back role.

Barrass is seen as a better defensive proposition in away games, especially as Shrewsbury utilise a left-winger in John McGrath, on loan from Doncaster Rovers.

"Lee (Unsworth) hasn't done a lot wrong and they are both in contention, but Matty might be the best option this time."

Definitely out is striker Graeme Jones whose niggling calf problem reared its ugly head again in the reserves' 2-0 victory over Macclesfield Town on Wednesday.

But that problem apart, it's a welcome clean bill of health for Barrow who has also noticed an improvement in striker Jon Newby's form over the past couple of weeks.

The former Liverpool man set up both goals in midweek and the Bury boss reckons the player could be getting back to his quicksilver best.

"Jon had a good game in the reserves and looked a lot sharper," he said.

"It's never easy at first going back to your old club and I've sat down and had a good chat with him.

"He didn't play much last year after his cartilege operation and I think he lost a yard or two of pace from what he had.

"But I can see he's looked a lot better in the past couple of weeks and that can only be good for us."

Newly promoted from the Conference, Shrewbury haven't had the easiest of starts to the season and currently lie in 19th place in the Coca Cola League Two table.

Nevertheless, they picked up a good point from a 0-0 draw at second-placed Bristol Rovers last Saturday.

"It will be a different game from last week as, like a lot of teams in our division, they try to play football," added Barrow.

"But I am comfortable with the way we are playing at the moment.

"If the lads are right you always feel you have a chance in games and I fancy us to do alright and bounce back.

"There's a good feel about the club and a better atmosphere about the place at the moment.

"With a smaller squad everybody knows they are in with a shout of playing if they shape themselves."

Striker Dave Nugent has been credited with the Shakers' first goal in the 3-2 Carling Cup defeat by Burnley, two weeks ago.

The goal was initially awarded to Dwayne Mattis but video replays show that it was the youngster who got the final touch.

The goal puts Nugent on five goals and up with the early leaders in the chase for the division's leading scorer.