ON-LOAN goalkeeper Nick Pope may be making a name for himself in the Bury ranks following a string of match-winning displays, but Shakers midfielder Tom Soares says he has become a pariah on the training pitch.

The Charlton stopper looked to be on his way to claiming a fourth straight clean sheet after saving a penalty against Oxford last Saturday before finally conceding late on in the 1-0 defeat.

Yet the same quality that saw Pope go unbeaten for 418 minutes of football is making life difficult during shooting practice for the rest of the Bury squad as they prepare to bounce back at Mansfield tomorrow.

“The boys hate shooting against him,” admitted Soares, who has been asked to share the goal-scoring burden in a new attacking midfield role.

“When we are doing our shooting drills it is so difficult getting the ball past him, so he is making life that bit more tough for us.

“But he has been brilliant since he has been here, so hopefully he keeps that up during the matches as well.”

Soares may be hoping Pope lets a few in in training this week to boost his confidence in front of goal after being asked to bomb forward in support of a lone striker in recent matches.

His new role as attacking midfielder is the latest positional switch for the former Crystal Palace man, who has played in every position across the midfield, as well as at wing-back and full-back this season.

The 28-year-old’s flexibility is seen as one of his biggest assets and played a key role in helping him snare a two-year contract extension earlier this month.

Soares, who has played in the Premier League with Stoke, says he was happy to sign the deal, which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2017.

“It’s a great club and a fantastic place to be,” he said, admittedly swayed by Bury’s move into Manchester City’s former training base in Carrington.

“Obviously, we have got the new training ground now, which is unbelievable.

“Just being there is amazing.

“So it is clear we are going places. That’s where I want to be.”

An upsurge in form since mid-December has seen Bury force their way back into the League Two play-off mix, and they were even putting pressure on the top three before last weekend’s disappointing defeat at home to Oxford.

That left them in sixth place, six points behind third-placed Wycombe, ahead of tomorrow’s game at Mansfield.

Manager David Flitcroft may choose to switch back to two up front for the trip to Field Mill, if strikers Danny Nardiello (hamstring) and Hallam Hope (hip) are able to shake off injuries that kept them out of last weekend’s game.

But after helping guide Bury to four straight wins before the Oxford defeat, Soares is eager to get back to winning ways, no matter which position he plays.

“We have been on a great run, we have just got to pick ourselves up and go again,” he added.

“Hopefully, we can go to Mansfield, get three points, kick on and go on another run.”