THE SCENE was set for new signing Brian Jensen to be the Bury hero in Tuesday night’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat at Port Vale.

But while the tie did not quite go to script, the legendary former Burnley goalkeeper is eager to make up for it if he is given his league bow for the Shakers at local rivals Rochdale on Saturday.

The man known as “The Beast” during his 10-year spell at Turf Moor became Kevin Blackwell’s 25th summer signing on Monday – transfer deadline day – when he signed a four-month deal.

And with both regular Bury keepers Rob Lainton and Trevor Carson doubtful for the weekend’s derby with shoulder injuries, it looks like the Danish stopper will get an immediate chance to shine.

“This is what you play football for – these kind of high-profile games, local derbies and all that – so I’m looking forward to it,” said the 38-year-old, who was released by the Clarets at the end of last season and had been training for six weeks at Gigg Lane before finally being offered a contract.

“If I play well and everything goes well then you never know what happens.

“It’s up to other guys then to take it (the number one shirt) and up to me to keep it.”

Jensen threw down a marker for Lainton and Carson with a commanding debut at Vale Park in a 2-1 first-round exit which deserved a happier ending.

He did his best to provide it, very nearly heading in an equaliser from a corner at the death after Tom Pope had popped up with a late double in the final 10 minutes – scoring what turned out to be the winner in the second minute of injury time.

“I haven’t lost a penalty shootout yet so, obviously, I did set myself on it, but it was an unfortunate clearance that has just ricocheted and it came in (and landed at Pope’s feet).

“I will be honest I thought he was going to try to take the ball around me so I tried to close him down as quick as possible but then he dinked me, so great finish, fair play to him.

“Then, when I went up for the corner, I headed the defender’s head.

“I would have got the ball if he didn’t just flick it in front of me, so that would have been my first goal ever if I hit the target.”

If Carson and Lainton fail to recover, Bury’s assistant manager Ronnie Jepson has backed Jensen to do a professional job at Spotland.

Jepson said the results of a scan on Lainton’s shoulder problem are due today, while Carson is suffering from the after-effects of a nasty collision in last Saturday’s 4-1 victory at home to Cheltenham Town.

“We know Brian from old,” said Jepson. “So we know what he is capable of.

“He kicks it well and commands his box.”