COLIN Woodthorpe has urged David Nugent to keep his feet on the ground after finally breaking into the Premiership.

The Shakers defender, who played in the top flight for Norwich City, witnessed at first hand the striker's rapid rise from the Gigg Lane youth team to Championship scoring sensation.

Nugent sealed his £6million move to Portsmouth last week, earning his club a nice little windfall in the process.

And Woodthorpe has backed his fellow Liverpudlian to be a big hit at Fratton Park - and on the international stage - if he can cope with the pressures of top-flight football.

"His learning curve has gone up steeper than Everest," said the 38-year-old, who recently agreed a month-to-month contract with the Shakers. "When he came here a couple of seasons ago, in pre-season, with Preston, he was a different player.

"David had moved on so much, but you do learn quickly when you play at a higher level.

"Hopefully, he can continue to improve, get into the England side and play well in the Premiership.

"He has got the pace, his game has improved more than 100 per cent, and it would be great to see him do well.

"He has just got to keep his feet on the floor."

Woodthorpe is currently the Shakers' second longest-serving player, behind Dave Challinor.

In a 17-year professional career, he is yet to play under a managerial structure like the one in place at Gigg this season. But the veteran defender said he and the rest of the squad are optimistic about the new campaign.

"Along with a lot of the other lads, we were wondering what was going on over the summer.

"We have only seen it in a broad way at the moment, so we will probably have a better idea over the next couple of weeks.

"It's been a case of firefighting over the last couple of seasons, with finances and things going on at the club.

"But there is more reason to be optimistic with the money coming through from Nugent."