NATHAN Cameron continues to repay the faith shown in him by manager David Flitcroft following another impressive defensive display at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The 23-year-old former Coventry City centre-back has come full circle under the Bury boss.

He looked odds-on to leave the club last season after being dropped from the matchday squad.

But after refusing a move to an unnamed Scottish club, Cameron buckled down over the summer and won back his place in the starting line-up early in the current campaign.

His displays since then have not only made the youngster an ever-present in the defence, but he was also recently handed the captaincy.

And results have followed, with Bury losing just once in their last seven matches, conceding only five goals in the process.

That miserly run continued on Saturday, when the Shakers held firm to claim a vital three points at relegation-threatened Cheltenham following a disciplined rearguard action.

“Nathan Cameron led an incredible second-half performance,” said Flitcroft, after his side were pegged back to 2-1 midway through the first half but shut out the League Two strugglers for the remainder of the match.

“Crosses coming in, long throws coming in, he has dealt with them all.

“His calmness on the ball, his composure, the way he brings things down and has time – from where he was a year ago it is like looking at a different player and I am delighted with him.

“Everything about him was quality today – quality of leadership, quality on the ball, quality of decision making.”

Cameron’s reinvention at Bury followed a nightmare display in a 4-0 thrashing at Chesterfield last January, when he substituted at half time.

The burly central defender, who was signed by previous manager Kevin Blackwell in the summer of 2013, did not feature again until the final three matches of the season.

But he was quickly rewarded for his improved performances this term, signing a new three-year contract at the end of October.

His age and potential sell-on value make Cameron a valuable asset for the Shakers – the perfect example of the new breed of footballer Flitcroft and his paymasters are trying to cultivate.

“He buzzes you up,” added the Bury manager.

“Every day you come into work you want to improve people.

“He is just a person that keeps getting better. Better as a person and better as a football player.

"It is a double positive with that kid.”