JOE Skarz admits he has been impressed with Bury’s transformation under David Flitcroft, but says he is focused on derailing their promotion charge when he lines up against his old side tomorrow.

The former Shakers left-back, who is currently on loan at Saturday’s opponents Oxford following a loan move from Rotherham in January, was an integral member of the team that last won promotion from the League Two in 2010/11.

And the 25-year-old defender rates their chances of repeating that trick this season.

Bury have jumped to fifth place in the table following four straight wins and are just five points adrift of the top three with 12 games to play.

“It’s a really good game to look forward to,” Skarz told the Oxford Mail, ahead of his first return to the JD Stadium since leaving in March 2013.

“On paper I believe they’ve probably got the strongest squad in the league.

“And they’ve got a good manager.

“They’re doing really well but I think it will be a good game to play in. I believe it will be two good teams going at it to get three points.”

After winning promotion with Bury under Richie Barker, Skarz went on to play two seasons for them in League One, racking up almost 150 appearances before being sold to Rotherham, just weeks before the Shakers were relegated.

His departure at such a crucial time angered fans, but it soon became clear the club faced a financial crisis and had to try to balance the books.

After moving to the New York Stadium, Skarz helped Rotherham to a late-season surge to promotion.

They went up again from League One via the play-offs the following season, but Skarz struggled for a regular place in the Championship this campaign before his move to Oxford.

Michael Appleton’s side are embroiled in a relegation battle and go into Saturday’s match at the JD Stadium in 19th place in the table, just five points above the drop zone.

But they are unbeaten in their last three games and have only lost twice in their last eight.

Skarz has been an important part of that revival, and he hopes to put sentiment to one side to continue that good run of form on his first return to Bury.

“I’ve not been back, apart from watching. I really enjoyed my time there, it’s changed a lot since but there are still a few people in the offices who are still there,” he added.

“It will be nice to catch up with them, but my only focus is on going there and hopefully doing what I did quite a lot when I was there – winning.”