DANNY Mayor’s combination of graft and guile make him a real team player, says Bury manager David Flitcroft.

The Leyland-born winger signed a two-year contract extension at Bury last week to take his deal at the club up to June 2019.

Flitcroft said talks had been ongoing over the last couple of weeks and were finalised on Friday, providing a further boost to a club well and truly on the up.

“The lads believe in Danny and I believe in Danny,” he said.

“He is a fundamental part of what we do. He is our energy and our driving force and I am glad we have been able to tie that up.

“It has been going on for a few weeks but Danny wanted to commit - he feels safe here, he’s got a good home, he knows how much we respect him.

“It’s also what he does out of possession. People only see what he does on the ball, when he’s gliding, they only see that side of him.

“What I see as a football person, and what my staff see, is the work he puts in, he puts in a real shift.”

Mayor has played an integral role in the Shakers’ rise from League Two strugglers since initially signing on a season-long loan from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 2013.

He scored five goals in 42 appearances in his first campaign, winning the players’ player of the year award.

The 24-year-old midfielder made the move permanent in May last year, penning a three-year deal, and spurred them to promotion from League Two with another eight goals from 50 games on his way to becoming League Two Player of the Season.

Strikes against Swindon, Crewe and Leicester this season have helped Bury make a storming start to life in League One.

But Flitcroft highlighted Mayor’s impact on his team-mates, notably left-back Chris Hussey, as his most telling contribution.

“Chris Hussey’s form has been the best of his career and a lot of that is down to the combination (with Danny Mayor) and how they work down that left side,” he said.

“The way Huss gallops down that side when Danny is on the ball, they trust each other impeccably.

“What he has done for the team all season - he’s been part of a winning team over the last seven games so I am delighted to capture his signature because he is a huge talent and he wants to go places.”