Blackwell happy with rebuilding

Bury boss Kevin Blackwell admits he is happy with his new-look squad as they seek a win against Norwich in the Capital One Cup.

The Shakers are completely unrecognisable from the outfit which was relegated from League One last term under a cloud of financial uncertainty and on the back of two transfer embargos. Following that demotion to the fourth tier, chairman Brian Fenton stepped aside with 16 players being released as new owner Stewart Day and Blackwell were tasked with building a squad from scratch. "June the 24th we turned up for pre-season and I had four players signed at the football club," said Blackwell. Fast forward to today and 22 new players have arrived through the door at Gigg Lane, including Marco Navas, brother of Manchester City's Jesus, ex-Derby full-back Gareth Roberts and former Sunderland midfielder Tommy Miller. It has provided a fresh optimism around the place and Day, a 31-year-old property entrepreneur, is keen for the feel-good factor to hang around having offered fans free travel for the long trip to Carrow Road. Blackwell said: "Less than two months ago I couldn't have put a five-a-side team out never mind taking 15 coaches to Norwich. "It's been hard going but I think we've made some really good signings. I'm pleased with the attitude and I'm pleased with what we've seen so far and I think the fans are as well." Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the huge turnover of personnel, the Shakers have had an indifferent start to the campaign. They have beaten Crewe and Accrington convincingly while Blackwell took plenty of heart from the narrow opening-day defeat to promotion favourites Chesterfield and Saturday's draw with Burton, when the Shakers threw away a two-goal lead in the final seven minutes. "We go to Norwich full of confidence," added the former Leeds manager. "There's nothing expected of them. We can go there and try and play the game and do the right thing. "We want to put a performance on because we're taking 15 coaches, plus people that are travelling down on their own. There'll be 1,000 of them (Bury supporters) there and we've got to make sure we put on a performance for Bury." Striker Shaun Harrad has been at Gigg Lane since 2011 and understands the magnitude of a cup clash with such illustrious opposition. "It's massive to be playing a Premier League club on a Tuesday night in the cup," he said. "It's a great opportunity for everybody at the club to go out there and express themselves and maybe get a great result." Blackwell will be without on-loan teenager Jordan Sinnott against the Canaries as the terms of the deal with parent club Huddersfield stipulate he cannot play. However, Anton Forrester and Danny Mayor, both also on temporary deals with the Shakers, are allowed to feature. Andy Procter should play a part despite sustaining a head injury at Burton, but fellow midfielder Tom Soares (thigh) is a doubt.