BURY have been handed a welcome boost ahead of this weekend's testing League One double-header after four first-team players returned to training.

Leon Barnett (calf), Andrew Tutte (illness), Zeli Ismail (knee) and Ishmael Miller (hamstring) have all done workouts on the grass and could be in contention for Saturday's trip to fourth-placed Bradford and at home to Sheffield United (second) on Monday.

The Shakers have struggled with injures this year, fielding four teenagers in the 0-0 draw at Fleetwood on Boxing Day, and the returning contingent will give head coach Chris Brass a welcome boost.

“Zeli (Ismail) is not a million miles away,” Brass said. “We have got to check where Barny (Leon Barnett) is at, Andrew Tutte, people like Ishmael Miller.

“They are all back on grass which is pleasing. You are seeing them, they are a visual and part of the training

“They’re the ones who are knocking at the door and are welcome additions.

“It’s pleasing that we’re getting bodies back and once January hits we’ll have even more bodies. It will be nice to have a few selection dilemmas.

“There are a lot of difficult games coming up, Bradford, Sheffield United, Scunthorpe – top-end teams – but I do believe if this team go about it in the manner that they are then they are a top-end team (in the making).”

Brass also revealed positive news on the defensive front as Manchester City loanee Kean Bryan edges closer to a return after recovering from a thigh injury.

Centre-back Nathan Cameron, who was ruled out for six months in September with a re-occurrence of his knee cartilage problem, is set for a meeting with his specialist on Tuesday.

“Kean (Bryan) came back on the grass but we have just got to make sure he has healed. Nathan sees a specialist on January 3 so we will have a full understanding of where he’s at.”

However, the future is looking bleak for striker Chris Brown who has yet to feature for the Shakers since joining in August.

And Brass remains unsure whether he can be counted in his planning when the transfer window reopens on Sunday.

He said: “Chris is back on the grass but we will have to revisit where he is at and make sure he is on schedule.

“It has been tough but we have to have a realistic look at where he is at moving forward because there is not a great deal of the season left.

“We have got to know that bodies are going to be out there for the duration.”

Bury are expecting a bumper crowd for Monday's visit of Sheffield United, with the Blades selling their allocation of 2,055 tickets.