SIMILARITIES between the management styles of David Flitcroft and Everton boss Roberto Martinez convinced Toffees striker Hallam Hope to make the loan switch to the JD Stadium.

A short chat with Flitcroft was all it took to tempt the 20-year-old striker to swap the relative comfort of reserve-team football at Goodison for a League Two relegation dogfight.

“I only heard about the move at the end of last week, but I am glad to be here and looking forward to getting some games,” said the Wythenshawe-born forward.

“I spoke with the manager and I liked what he said – I liked the ideas he had about the team.”

Hope has been handed seven games in Bury’s run-in to hone his undoubted talent in competitive action, but the young striker revealed it wasn’t just a case of getting games under his belt.

He also wants to learn in a side that play with the same style and footballing principles adopted by the boss of his parent club.

“They (Flitcroft and Martinez) are both very intelligent managers – you can see that by the way they talk about the game,” he said.

“They are similar in other ways – they are both very positive people and want to play football the right way.

“Obviously, in this league it is harder to do that with the pitches and things like that, but you can see his (Flitcroft’s) ideas are good.

“For me, I am seeing a different side of the game from what I am used to at Everton, but I think you have to learn this to become a better player and that’s what I am hoping to do.”

Hope got off to the best possible start with two goals in his first two matches for Bury.

But any Bury fans thinking they may be able to steal the youngster, who has been capped by England up to Under-19s, look set to be left disappointed by Hope’s understandable ambition to play at the highest level.

“Obviously, any young footballer wants to play in the Premier League, but they are not all that lucky. All I can do is play as well as I can for whatever team I am at,” he said.

“I’m back at Everton next season, but I am just looking to getting in as many appearances as possible and trying to help the team.

“I might be interested in a season-long loan if the chance comes up but things change quickly in football and we will see what happens.”