BURY manager David Flitcroft is planning to bring in further reinforcements after revealing fresh injury concerns over joint top scorer Ryan Lowe and vice captain Craig Jones.

Both players sat out Saturday’s FA Cup victory over Hemel Hempstead Town and will miss tonight’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy area quarter-final tie at home to Tranmere.

Lowe, who has scored seven goals since signing from tonight’s opponents in the summer, has undergone surgery on a hernia and will be out for at least another week, while Jones faces up to four weeks on the sidelines with a torn hamstring.

Flitcroft has options, however, with Danny Nardiello’s quicker than expected return from a groin problem helping fill the void left by Lowe, while Tom Soares, who was suspended for the weekend’s cup tie, can be used to cover Jones’s role at right wing-back if needed.

But the Bury boss accepts he will have to supplement his squad before the loan window closes on November 27.

“Working with a small squad, we have kept a massive percentage of them fit, but we are just under our target now,” said Flitcroft.

“We are down to about 80 per cent so we have just got a few injuries that we need to make sure we have cover for.

“We’ve got a few things in the pipeline and things we are quite excited about, but the 27th is the date we are really working hard towards.

“We will have to make sure we have got enough numbers to get us to January, that is the key thing now.”

Rotherham keeper Scott Loach will go straight into tonight's squad after the goalkeeper joined on loan from Rotherham yesterday.

But Bolton Wanderers defender Hayden White, who was brought in last week as cover for Jones, but will not be available due to suspension. He will also miss Bury's trip to Morecambe on Saturday after picking up a three-match ban for a red card he was shown while playing on loan at Carlisle.

Flitcroft, however, is looking forward to working with Wanderers’ 19-year-old development squad captain when he is eventually available for selection.

“Hayden is here to offer competition to anyone down that right side. He gives Cam (Nathan Cameron) competition at right-sided centre-half, he gives us a right-back and a right wing-back, so he is a fantastic addition,” said the Bury boss.

“He wants to be part of this project and he is quality.

“He will get us driving forward, he will give us size and presence at the back. We have just got to negotiate these next two games.”

While the Shakers manager will be able to gleam two from Soares, Danny Mayor, Tom Kennedy and Chris Hussey for the wing-back roles, he will be hoping Nardiello can remain fit during Lowe’s absence, with only Danny Rose and teenage loan signing Courtney Duffus in reserve.

The 32-year-old striker came off the bench to score in Saturday’s FA Cup victory after a visit to a specialist last Wednesday produced a better-than-expected prognosis.

“He’s had a second opinion, which sometimes you need,” said Flitcroft.

“For the minute it is good news. We are still exploring stuff this week, exploring different avenues and trying to manage the injury site, as opposed to surgical intervention.”