NEW Bury manager Chris Lucketti has told his players to go out and impress him this Saturday.

Lucketti felt there were plenty of postives as the Shakers drew 0-0 in his first game in charge at Northampton last weekend.

Now his squad has another chance to stake their claim for a regular spot as Bury visit Walsall in a rearranged Checkatrade Trophy clash, with a place in the last 16 at stake.

“We got to the northern final twice with Fleetwood so it’s a competition that means a lot to clubs like ourselves because we’ve got the opportunity to get to Wembley,” said Lucketti, a former assistant manager at Highbury.

“It also gives me a chance to look at different systems and different players we’ve got at the club. I’m still in that mode of making sure everybody gets a fair chance and gets assessed properly by me.”

Last week’s draw edged Bury off the bottom of League One on goal difference, and from what he has seen so far, Lucketti is confident his players have enough quality to climb clear of relegation trouble.

He said: “I know there’s a talented dressing room in there and all I want them to do is work hard for each other, then the quality that we’ve got will shine through.

“Finishing is an area we need to improve on but we know we’ve got the players in the club to put the ball in the net. There are loads of positives – that’s the benchmark now we have to go from.”

Although Lucketti has only had one game in charge, he can already tell the difference between being assistant and manager.

“The workload, you can’t even compare the two,” said the ex-Bury centre-half. “As an assistant you’re there to help and show support to the manager, if he needs it, but as a manager you’re the man that everybody’s looking to for leadership.

“Everything happened quickly last week. From coming in Thursday, there’s been so much to take in, in terms of getting to know the squad, everybody behind the scenes, how the club works and the training facilities. Then we travelled down on Friday so it’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but I’ve enjoyed every minute.”

Harry Bunn remains out for Saturday’s lunchtime kick off while top scorer Jermaine Beckford is doubtful. It is also understood talks were ongoing as the Bury Times went to press with the man Lucketti wants as his assistant, although Fleetwood Town scout Steve Davis has been ruled out of the running.