RYAN Lowe hopes he has done enough to force his way back into the Bury starting line-up for tonight’s visit of Stevenage.

The Shakers striker became the second-fastest player in the club’s post-war era to reach 50 league goals after coming off the bench to help seal a comfortable 3-0 victory at managerless Carlisle on Saturday.

Lowe, pictured, hit the landmark in only his 97th game for the club – four more than record holder Mark Carter. But the 35-year-old front man had to wait more than three years since his last league goal in Bury colours, scored at the end of his first spell before a move to Sheffield Wednesday in August, 2011.

“It’s been a long time coming, hasn’t it?” said the Liverpudlian, who was dropped from the starting line-up after failing to net in his first six league matches since re-signing for Bury in the summer.

“I’m obviously proud to have scored 50 league goals for Bury.

“It was a tough few days for me not to be picked in the team, but you have to get on with it.

“The gaffer makes the decisions and I’m man enough to take them on the chin and when your chance comes along you have got to show what you are capable of.”

Lowe was part of an experienced bench that also included fellow front men Clive Platt and Danny Nardiello – who were both back after spells out with injury.

All three will be hoping to force their way back into the starting XI tonight, although manager David Flitcroft may choose to stick with the two “shadow strikers” – Nicky Adams and Danny Mayor – who started against Carlisle.

Bury moved into the automatic promotion places after stretching their unbeaten run in League Two to six matches.

But Lowe says he and his team-mates will be on their guard for the visit of Stevenage, who beat promotion hopefuls Shrewsbury on Saturday.

“We have gone into third position, but we are not going to rest on our laurels,” he said.

“We have got to keep going, getting stronger every day, every training session, every game.

“I think you will see us start to click in the next couple of months and hopefully we can push on through the season and get to where we need to get to – promotion.”