SUPPORTERS may have to wait to see the best of new signing Chris Eagles but manager David Flitcroft believes the former Premier League midfielder could take Bury to the next level.

After a fantastic start to the season, the Shakers’ results have dipped slightly in the last week.

A goalless draw at home to Rochdale and a first defeat on the road in 18 matches at Bradford on Tuesday night made it three games without a win.

They travel to Shrewsbury on Saturday eager to kick-start another good run and extinguish the memories of last season’s 5-0 defeat.

And while it is doubtful Eagles will figure after spending the last five months searching for a new club following his release from Charlton, Flitcroft believes the 29-year-old former Bolton, Burnley and Manchester United player could be the key to maintaining Bury’s forward momentum.

“I felt that we’ve been a bit light all season in the wide areas,” said the Shakers boss, revealing he had recent loan bids for Middlesbrough’s Yanic Wildschut and Blackburn winger John O’Sullivan turned down.

“I’ve only really got Danny (Mayor) down the left hand side and we’ve been trying to fudge it at times, utilising Hallam (Hope) down the left or right and it hasn’t really worked – or I haven’t felt it’s worked.

“I went for the boy Wildschut but couldn’t afford him, went for the boy O’Sullivan but couldn’t get him out of Blackburn, so we really tried desperately to find some width in the team that I felt we were lacking.

“Sometimes you lose some and then the next one comes along and, like I’ve always said, I’m patient in building the team.”

Eagles has had trials with Wigan and Preston, and was at Coventry last week when Flitcroft made his move.

The 29-year-old wide man agreed a deal until the end of the season and after scoring 55 goals in 346 career appearances, the Bury boss is willing to wait for him to “re-engage” with football.

“A lot of managers have had the opportunity to sign him but not been able to, but he (Eagles) wanted to come and be a part of it,” said Flitcroft.

“It wasn’t motivated by money, it was motivated by him wanting to come and do well for the cause.

“He’s been waiting to find the right thing. He’s been waiting to see if he really wants to be re-engaged with football again.

“Sometimes you can be out of it a long time, and he has been since last season, so he’s seen something he likes.

“I think that we’ll do a fantastic job in re-engaging him back into football and what he does because he certainly loves football.

“And he’s got quality, he’ll have a creative influence over the team, he’s got pace and intricacy in his work.

“So he’ll do okay, I just need now to get him up to speed.

“We’ll get him up and running, he needs a couple of weeks. He’s had two tough days with us now. It’s a good signing for the club.”