LEE Clark yesterday drafted in two new loan signings – Brighton centre-midfielder Rohan Ince and Huddersfield defender Jordan Williams – and has thrown both into the starting line-up for today’s derby match at Rochdale.
Ince, aged 24, is seen as a direct replacement for injured skipper Stephen Dawson, who faces up to five months on the sidelines after tearing cartilage in his knee in the Carabao Cup defeat to Sunderland.
Williams, meanwhile, will slot in at the problem right-back slot after injuries to summer signing Phil Edwards and Craig Jones.
Clark said yesterday: “Rohan is a player that has been on the radar for a while.
“He will bring a presence to the team and is a very good footballer, he plays it simple and plays it effectively and I believe he will be a big player for us in every sense of the word.
“I just felt that since losing Stephen Dawson, it has taken something away from our team in terms of drive and leadership, so I had to address it.
“We have some exciting attacking players in the group and we need to get them on the ball more than we have in the previous games, and Rohan will help us do that.”
Ince has been brought in on a season-long loan, although there is a recall close on the deal that Brighton can activate after Christmas.
Williams, aged 17, also joins on a season-long loan. A first-year scholar at the Premier League club’s academy, the teenager is a regular in Frankie Bunn’s under-23s side.
He is predominantly a right-back but can play in the centre of defence and has two caps for England Under-18s.
Clark added: “Jordan is a player that we have watched a few times, we knew about him before the season started, and I made contact with Huddersfield after he impressed me in the pre-season game.
“They had Tommy Smith injured at the time and didn’t really want to let him out. David Wagner and his staff think very highly of Jordan, so we have kept asking and kept in touch with Huddersfield.
“I went to watch him make his debut in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and he was outstanding. “Huddersfield have high hopes for him and they have turned down substantial offers for him from Premier League clubs.
“We are delighted to have him here, he is a young boy with a terrific future, and thankfully Huddersfield have seen that we can help him with his development.”
Full Bury team to face Rochdale: Murphy; Edwards, Whitmore, Cameron; Williams, Dai, Ince, Leigh; Ajose; Bunn, Beckford. Subs: Fasan, Reilly, Aldred, Ismail, Skarz, Cooney, Lowe.
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