BURY have enlisted the help of England coach and former Manchester United star Gary Neville ahead of their trip to Newport County AFC this weekend, writes Andrew Penman.

Neville, who is also now a top TV pundit, visited Bury’s Carrington training ground to help them prepare for the final stretch of the League Two season.

David Flitcroft’s men are currently fourth in the table and still have a realistic chance of automatic promotion as they are four points behind third-placed Wycombe Wanderers with a game in hand.

But after Monday’s shock home defeat to Morecambe they know there is no margin for error with Saturday’s trip to Rodney Parade followed by a home clash with second-placed Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday.

Bury goalkeeper Nick Pope kept 16 clean sheets in the final 24 games of York City’s campaign to help them squeeze into the League Two play-offs last season, before they were beaten by Fleetwood in the semi-finals.

And if that was not enough, the 22-year-old on-loan Charlton stopper was able to pick the brains of Bury-born Neville last week.

“I thought he spoke exceptionally well about his experiences and what he has been through as a player, obviously not on winning promotions but going for titles,” Pope told the Bury Times.

“He told us about the time they chased down Arsenal and Newcastle and the experiences they went through.

“They might have won their last seven games or something but there were ups and downs within those times.

“It is about keeping your head and trying to do what is best – not panicking.”

Pope has had a similar effect on Bury’s promotion charge this season as he did at York, where Nigel Worthington’s side went 17-games unbeaten to nudge out Bury and claim a place in the top seven.

The Shakers have won eight of their last 10 games – 10 in 16 since Pope’s arrival – ahead of this weekend’s trip to play-off chasing County.

“We have just got to keep on getting wins and see where that takes us,” said Pope.

“We go into every game to win. There is no question of going away from home looking for a point. There is no room to think like that anymore.”