Bury v Chesterfield preview

Team news ahead of Saturday's League Two clash between Bury and Chesterfield at Gigg Lane.

The hosts will kick off their campaign with a new-look side, their squad having been revamped this summer with 17 fresh faces coming in through the door at Gigg Lane. And Shakers boss Kevin Blackwell is hoping to push that number up to 19 before this weekend's encounter, revealing he is close to signing Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Danny Mayor and another unnamed player. Defender Phil Picken will not be available, though, after sustaining another knee injury which is likely to force him to miss a second successive season. Central defenders Liam Cooper and Ian Evatt will miss the season opener at Bury. Cooper has a side strain and summer signing Evatt, who will replace the former as captain when he is fully fit, is still short of match fitness following a lengthy absence with a knee injury. Sam Hird along with new recruits Ryan Edwards and Matty Brown are in contention to fill the centre-back void. Jimmy Ryan is struggling with a calf injury sustained in Saturday's 1-1 friendly draw with Sheffield Wednesday but fellow midfielders Sam Morsy (ankle) and Jay O'Shea (illness) are expected to be fit. Left-back Nathan Smith is continuing to work his way back to fitness following an ankle injury.