BURY have the best left-back in League One, according to manager David Flitcroft, who says Chris Hussey’s two-year contract extension is richly deserved.

The in-form defender put pen to paper last Friday on a deal that will keep him at Gigg Lane until the end of the 2017/18 season.

Flitcroft said: “He has earned the contract.

“I’m delighted. He’s the best left-back in the league, offensively and defensively, and he’s a really important part to us winning football matches.”

The 26-year-old full-back joined Bury in March 2014, initially on loan from Burton Albion.

He scored twice in 11 appearances before returning to the Pirelli Stadium to take part in the Brewers' failed play-off campaign, including an appearance at Wembley in the final against Fleetwood Town.

Hussey’s final few games at Burton triggered an automatic contract extension, but he waived that to pen a two-year deal with the Shakers.

His first full season at the club brought instant success when Bury secured promotion to League One.

He has made a total of 74 appearances for the Shakers so far, scoring his long-awaited third goal for the club in their recent 4-3 victory over Blackpool.

His crosses for Bury's first two goals of that win put him at the top of the League One assists chart and he added another last weekend to take his tally to eight for the season.

“The work that we have put in to Chris Hussey and the work Chris Hussey has done – he’s a different person to the one that arrived two years ago,” added Flitcroft.

“We have an environment that people can flourish in and if you work hard in our environment you improve yourself, there is no doubt about that.

“It’s really important to me that in the whole organisation, staff included, that we are all improving and Chris Hussey probably epitomises that more than any other player.

“He has bought into what we are doing, worked on his game and worked on his defensive responsibilities – the contract is a credit to him.”

Ever the taskmaster, Flitcroft was quick to ensure Hussey did not get too big for his boots, adding a tongue-in-cheek proviso to his fulsome praise: “I wish he had signed it Sunday because before he signed it his set plays were unbelievable and then today (against Wigan) I don’t think he’s put one in.

“So the next time he gets a new deal he’s getting it on a Sunday, not before the game.”