ANDREW Tutte and Tom Soares signed extensions to their contracts this week that will tie the midfielders to Bury until the summer of 2017.

Tutte, aged 24, has been rewarded for some stand-out performances, culminating with a man-of-the-match display in Saturday’s 1-0 win against Hartlepool.

Soares has also risen in prominence during the current campaign, with the 28-year-old cementing his place as the squad’s most versatile player after filling in across the midfield and as a wing-back.

Chairman Stewart Day said: “After sitting down with Tom, he has ambitions of playing at a higher level and feels that this more than achievable at Bury Football Club.

“Andrew has been fantastic for us, he’s been a key member of this season’s squad – his performances have been solid and consistent.

“As a Club our aim is to keep our best players, we don't want to lose them to other clubs.”

While the Shakers chief has helped stave off any possible approaches for two crucial members of the squad, manager David Flitcroft must now decide whether to stick or twist as the closure of the loan window approaches.

The Bury boss was keen to bring in a new striker when Ryan Lowe suffered a hamstring injury in January.

But Flitcroft confirmed the veteran frontman was due to return to full training this week and could even be available for Saturday’s match at play-off rivals Plymouth.

Lowe’s return to fitness may see the 41-year-old coach turn his attention to central-midfield.

Former Shakers captain Steven Schumacher was at Saturday’s match as an interested observer and is understood to be keen on a loan move away from League One Fleetwood after becoming embroiled in a contract dispute.

Flitcroft refused to be drawn on a possible move for the 30-year-old midfielder, but admitted he was on the lookout for reinforcements.

And he hinted he could be ready to raid Bolton Wanderers’ Under-21s squad after recently securing the services of right-back Joe Riley on a permanent deal.

“I’ m always looking. We don’t stop looking. We are out at games most nights, looking to try to find and identify the next players,” he said.

“We played a game against Bolton last week (Tuesday). Wow – what I have learned from that is something quite special.

“They beat us 3-0, but it is the best Bolton U21s team I have visited. It was a brilliant game for us to look at in terms of recruitment, to see what they have got and see what they are doing.

“I think we have linked up well with Bolton on the deals to bring in Riles (Joe Riley) and Hayden White.

“We looked at Conor Wilkinson quite intently. There are players in there who have been freed up now, with Neil Lennon coming in.

“The whole system is freed up, since Lenny has put three or four players into the first team, like your Josh Velas, and with Andy Kellet going to Manchester United.

“The thing is moving, it really is moving and it is brilliant to see lads who were probably stagnated start to express themselves and that’s what I saw the other day.

“It’s a link that certainly we want. Our chairman has got a fantastic relationship with Phil Gartside so it is something that we can certainly look at.”