JACOB Mellis may be better known for his range of passing than tigerish tackling but the former Chelsea midfielder will be more than happy to put in another shift at Bramall Lane tomorrow in return for a place in the starting line-up.

The summer signing played his part in a gritty defensive display at Walsall last weekend that helped Bury to their first victory since achieving promotion to League One.

It was all hands on deck after Craig Jones gave the Shakers an early lead, but they hung on for a 1-0 victory that knocked the Saddlers off top spot.

Bury will no doubt need another backs-to-the-wall performance to get anything from a Sheffield United side that have won their last seven matches in all competitions and taken maximum points from their two home league games so far this season.

But Mellis says he is feeling good after starting the last two games and is relishing the chance to test himself in front of 19,000 Blades fans.

"Walsall were riding high so it was good for us to go there and win,” said the 24-year-old, who joined late in pre-season after securing a free transfer from Blackpool.

“We’ve got our first win on the board now so we just take it from here and keep going.

“We’ve been working hard on our defensive side and we also got our first clean sheet.

“But for me, it was good to get in the minutes because I need to get fitter.”

Mellis believes he has benefited from teaming up with Bury boss David Flitcroft again, after scoring 10 goals in 89 appearances under him at Barnsley before an ill-fated move to Bloomfield Road.

"I know I need to work harder off the ball and on my positioning, but through-balls are one of my strengths and the manager gives me licence to play, get on the ball and create and score goals. That’s one of the main reasons I came here,” he said.

“He’s a good man manager, he’s detailed professionally and nothing is left to chance.

“That’s the way I like it.”

Mellis is sure to figure prominently in Flitcroft's plans again this weekend after featuring in every one of Bury's matches so far this season, either from the start or off the bench.

The manager does have some injury doubts, though. Full-back Joe Riley limped off at Walsall after falling heavily on his hip, while midfielder Kelvin Etuhu continues to struggle with a foot injury, and strikers Danny Rose, Hallam Hope and Ryan Lowe missed last weekend's match with niggles.

But the Bury boss is eager to build on the win at Walsall.

"It’s momentum," he said. "We’ve not been far away. We’ve scored a lot of goals this season but conceded a lot.

"That (win at Walsall) has given them a lift, it’s given them a verve."