ALAN Knill has hailed Bury’s young guns after his side extended their unbeaten run to five games.

After an indifferent start to the season, the Shakers look to be rediscovering the form that took them to within one goal of automatic promotion last season.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Torquay was followed by a 2-1 victory over League One side Tranmere in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night — and it was the eye-catching performances of his younger players that pleased the Bury boss most.

“Against Tranmere we fielded only three players over the age of 23,” said Knill, who is now preparing his men for the visit of Northampton on Saturday. “They are all technical players and I like the energy and enthusiasm the younger players give us.

“Irrespective of the result, I thought we were excellent and we had an urgency about us and when we go forward quickly we worry teams.

“We are not a side that gets the ball and launches it. We want to educate players and develop them and the only way we can do that is to have the ball and express ourselves.

“It was particularly nice for Michael Jones to score the winning goal against his former club.

“We were lucky to get him because he has got a lot of attributes I like and he really pushes himself. I’m hopeful he’s going to have a great career because he works hard. Give him the ball and he is a really talented footballer.”