BURY striker Tom Pope believes team spirit and togetherness is behind the club's promising start to the League One season.

The forward, who has four goals already this term, claims the Shakers have a squad so united that they would do anything for each other.

Their battling spirit was evident again in Saturday's 2-1 victory at home to Shrewsbury, when they moved up to seventh in the table thanks to a Danny Mayor double, despite playing half the game with only 10 men.

Pope, the former Port Vale striker, was forced to put in a shift after strike partner James Vaughan was sent off before the break.

But while the pair were unable to add to their goal tally at the weekend, their blossoming partnership looks to have the potential to become one of the deadliest strike forces in League One.

“The togetherness in this squad now is probably one of the best that I have ever been involved with and I think it is showing on the pitch,” Pope said.

“I am unselfish player and Vaughan is too. He suits me perfectly because he is not a selfish striker like some of the ones I have played with in the past.

“He is willing the share the workload and challenge for some headers, which means I don't have to take all the batterings off the defenders.

“It's only early days but it seems to be going really well."

Pope has been sporting a Jamie Vardy-style wrist cast ever since suffered a terrible training-ground injury in March.

The towering forward had two screws and a metal plate inserted into his wrist during surgery and may never be able to play without the support cast.

“I struggle with weights and can't do any push-ups because I can't put any weight on it,” he explained. “I would much rather play without a cast but the doctor has advised me to wear it to stop me snapping my wrist again.

“There's only a very slim chance of it ever healing properly so I could have to wear it for the rest of my career.”

Pope's early-season success may not have happened had it not been for Leon Clarke's sale to Sheffield United.

Before Clarke's unexpected departure, Pope was placed on the transfer list by manager David Flitcroft, but while a lot of interest was shown in the 30-year-old's services, the striker stayed put and says he is delighted with the way things have turned out.

“I was aware that I may have had to leave in the summer due to budget cuts and there were quite a few teams interested, but they weren't in the right locations and would have required a lot of travelling,” he revealed.

“The manager letting Leon (Clarke) go meant I had a chance to get my head down and fight for my place – which I have always wanted to do since the day I joined Bury.”