ASSISTANT manager Peter Shirtliff has challenged his threadbare squad to push on from Tuesday night’s 2-1 victory against Scunthorpe United and finish off the season in style.

Bury only had 13 fit players available for the midweek win, but will have Efe Sodje and Ethan Ebanks-Landell back for Saturday’s trip to Walsall.

And with just one match remaining after that – at home to Yeovil a week on Saturday – Shirtliff wants his players to build up a head of steam to take into the next campaign.

“I’m a believer that how you finish a season is how you start the next one, so hopefully we can finish on a high now,” he said.

The Bury coach confirmed they will have to finish the season without goalkeeper Trevor Carson (shoulder) and striker Andy Bishop (foot), who will both miss the final two fixtures.

But after watching his players show spirit to come from behind and beat the Iron, he believes they will continue to put in maximum effort.

“I’m pleased for the players because they have tried hard all season and they’ve not had the best of fortune and they showed a good enthusiasm in the second half to win the game,” he said.

“It speaks well of them and, obviously, they are playing individually for their careers.”