BURY manager David Flitcroft says young captain Nathan Cameron will learn an important lesson during a self-inflicted spell on the sidelines.

The 23-year-old defender will miss the next two matches through suspension after picking up a 10th booking of the season during Tuesday night's 1-0 win at York.

His latest caution – for needlessly kicking the ball away – will see the former Coventry City centre-back sit out Saturday’s match at home to Northampton, one of League Two’s form teams, and the visit of play-off rivals Southend the following weekend.

“Cam’s a passionate guy and someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, but I think he’s had either two or three bookings now for showing dissent,” he said.

“We need to educate him, it’s about helping him and supporting him and making sure he comes out the other side.

“We have spoken about it internally.

“When you are in that moment it is difficult.

"I have been there as a player myself.

“It is difficult when you feel as though something is going away from you, but he has given the referee no option but to give him the yellow card.”

There is no suggestion Cameron could have put his place in the team in jeopardy after coming to the fore in what has been a breakthrough year.

His silky displays as a ball-playing central defender, not to mention his impressive physical presence, have been an integral factor in a recent run that has seen the side win six of their last seven matches and keep five clean sheets in the process.

That run of form, which has included four straight away wins, two this week at Mansfield and York, propelled Bury up to fourth in the table.

But Flitcroft is confident that with Egypt international Adam El-Abd set to cover for Cameron on Saturday, the squad is more than capable of coping in his absence.

“I have no worries about any of this squad,” he said.

“We have got some fantastic players waiting to step in.

“We have worked really hard on the players who have not had regular minutes in the team and I know Adam is chomping at the bit.”

El-Abd only recently lost his place in the starting XI after being sent off in Bury’s last defeat, at home to Oxford.

Former captain Jim McNulty took his place in the team and helped the Shakers to back-to-back victories and clean sheets.

It looks as if McNulty and El-Abd will now partner each other for the first time on Saturday.

But Flitcroft added: “The back four, whoever I have played, whether it has been Nults and Cam or Adam and Cam, have been fantastic.

“We have done a lot of unit work with them and I am delighted with the structure of the team at the minute.

“The clean sheets we are getting are not just luck, you have to make it happen.”