DANNY Nardiello has been warned he must fight to regain his place in the starting line-up at Bury after last season’s top scorer finally agreed to a contract extension.

Manager David Flitcroft revealed that the 32-year-old striker had decided to stay on at the club following Friday’s 1-1 draw at Morecambe.

But despite heading the scoring charts at Gigg Lane for the past two campaigns, scoring 29 goals in 71 appearances, the Shakers boss says Nardiello has fallen behind summer signings Leon Clarke and Tom Pope in the pecking order.

“I’m delighted to have captured his services,” said Flitcroft. “The deal was offered to him at the end of last season but he did have quite a few good options, as you would expect being the striker he is and with the goals he has scored.

“Whilst he was stalling on his contract we went out and got two really good top-line strikers and he is now one of the six strikers that we have at the football club. “He is part of the squad and he knows that.”

Pope and Clarke lined up together against Macclesfield last Wednesday in Bury’s pre-season opener and again at Morecambe on Friday, and are expected to start when the Shakers host Blackburn on Tuesday night.

Nardiello is not expected to be available for that match due to injury.

“Unfortunately for him he has tweaked an old back injury in training,” said Flitcroft. “He’s had a scan on the injury and will be getting an injection later in the week that will hopefully rectify the problem.”

When the former Rotherham and Barnsley striker does eventually return, he will be part of a six-strong strike force at Gigg Lane.

Youngsters Hallam Hope and Danny Rose have both figured in Bury’s two first-team friendlies. Hope tried in a new wide role while Rose has come on off the bench.

Flitcroft will also have veteran Ryan Lowe to call upon, although he injured ankle ligaments earlier in pre-season and is still waiting for his first run-out.

Last season’s youth sensation Anthony Dudley, who scored more than 20 goals for the Under-18s and was handed his first professional contract as a result, is also in the reckoning.

The 18-year-old scored in a 2-2 draw at Radcliffe Borough yesterday as part of a youthful Bury side watched by 471 fans.

Matt Landregan opened the scoring for Boro in the first half before Liam Williams equalised for the Shakers on the stroke of half time.

Dudley then fired Bury in front, only for Rick Smith to equalise for Boro from the penalty spot.

Bury failed to find the net themselves at Morecambe on Friday night – Shrimps defender Ryan Edwards turned a Joe Riley cross into his own net to hand them a fourth-minute lead before home captain Peter Murphy equalised.