BURY could be forced to reassess their transfer plans in the final week of the January window after picking up injuries to new signing Joe Riley, Danny Mayor and Ryan Lowe.

Training was stopped early last Friday after Riley pulled up with a hamstring problem on a heavy pitch at Lower Gigg.

While his injury is not thought to be a long-term problem, the full-back was not risked in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to League Two leaders Wycombe Wanderers, when striker Lowe and goalscorer Mayor had to be substituted after picking up knocks.

The match was played in atrocious conditions, as snow fell on an already sodden surface at the JD Stadium, turning the pitch into a mudbath.

With all three players now major doubts for Saturday's visit of Carlisle, Shakers boss David Flitcroft admits he may have to dip back into the transfer market.

“We will assess them,” he said. “I have brought two in (Riley and goalkeeper Nick Pope) but I might have lost three and I don’t know how long for, so we will assess that.

“But you know what, if the right player came along I am sure that we would do something.”

Tom Soares filled in for new signing Riley at right-back, and with centre-halves Keil O’Brien and Pablo Mills stepping up their return from injury it looks as if Flitcroft’s attention will turn to bolstering midfield and attack.

Hallam Hope – who turned his loan stay from Everton into a permanent deal on the first day of the current window – is yet to score in nine games of his second spell at the club.

And with strike partner Danny Nardiello tentatively finding his way back to full fitness from a torn hamstring, Flitcroft may be tempted to add to his front line.

But it is the manager’s attacking options in midfield that seem to be causing him most concern.

He has relied on Mayor to provide the creative spark this season, with fellow wide men Nicky Adams and Craig Jones struggling to match his tally of goals and assists.

Bury may be forced to bypass that part of the pitch this weekend though, with further rain and snow adding to the JD quagmire.

And after claiming work done to relay the drainage over the summer had failed, Flitcroft is concerned groundsman Mike Curtis could be facing an uphill struggle to produce a playable surface for Saturday's match.

“It’s going to be a tough ask, it really is,” he said.

“You have seen that there are three or four large parts of the pitch that have really failed.

“There is stagnant water on it and the ball is sticking.

“Mike (and his team) put in such a shift (to get the game on) and I feel for them.

“They have done everything they can to try to get that pitch into something that looks like it was a couple of months ago.

“I think the company (that laid the new drainage) are going to have to come in and nail it and make sure it is in a better state because certainly at the start of the season it was a top quality pitch, but as soon as the adverse weather has come in it has turned into blancmange.”