BURY boss Graham Barrow has been dealt a massive blow with the news that goalkeeper Glyn Garner needs surgery and will be out for weeks.

The Welsh shot-stopper, the current supporters' player of the season, has had a niggling problem with his left knee all season and aggravated it during last Saturday's 0-0 draw at Mansfield Town.

A subsequent scan has revealed cartilage damage that needs urgent remedial work which will keep him out of action for at least two months.

"Glyn has had some trouble with his knee for a while but tweaked it last weekend, and the specialist believes he must have an operation now," said Barrow.

"That's the gamble you take when you only have one experienced goalkeeper on the books, it's just typical of our luck that this should happen.

"When I came to the club we had the luxury of both Glyn and Paddy Kenny, but its a different situation now."

With the only other goalkeeper on Bury's books young Greg Smith, Barrow has moved quickly to fill the gap and landed a quality replacement in Welsh international Andy Marriott.

The much-travelled 34-year-old, who spent the majority of his career with Nottingham Forest, Wrexham and Sunderland, has five caps for the Principality and had been plying his trade with Beira Mar in the Portuguese Supaliga (their version of the Premiership) but has returned to the Britain to find a club.

After starting on the bench for the Portuguese side earlier this season he became first choice after three weeks playing 23 matches before an injury forced him out.

He also made a small piece of history while on the continent by becoming the first goalkeeper to record a victory in Benfica's new Estadio Da Luz.

Before he went overseas he trained with Coventry City and Colchester United recently held his registration after taking him on trial last month.

Thankfully U's boss, ex-Shaker Phil Parkinson, was in no mood to scupper his former club's hopes of signing Marriott and readily agreed to cancel his contract so he could join the Shakers.

After signing a short-term deal on morning Friday, Marriott will go straight into a Bury side looking to extend their six game unbeaten sequence down at Cheltenham Town Saturday afternoon (3pm).

"We are very lucky to get someone of Andy's quality in," explained Barrow.

"With an FA Cup tie coming up next week, most clubs wouldn't want to loan out players who would be cup-tied.

"Funnily enough, he came in and did some training with us a few weeks ago."

Garner's injury aside, it's a clean bill of health for Barrow with even long-term calf injury victim Graeme Jones getting back to full fitness.

The evergreen striker played 45 minutes of Tuesday night's Manchester Senior Cup tie against Manchester City and came through the 3-0 defeat without any reaction.

"Graeme needs a bit more match practice but he got through Tuesday okay and that's the main thing," added Barrow.

"He's been fine in training too and touch wood, everything seems alright with him."

A repeat of last season's 2-1 victory at Whaddon Road, thanks to goals from Danny Swailes and Chris Porter, would go down a treat, as the tenth placed Shakers aim to close the gap on the leading clubs.

Barrow expects a tough test from John Ward's side who have steadily climbed the table after an indifferent start.

They won three league fixtures on the bounce before going down 1-0 at Oxford United last Saturday, and gave a very good account of themselves in the LDV Vans Trophy second round tie on Tuesday night, going down 4-3 on penalties to Coca Cola League One Walsall after twice leading a game that ended 2-2.

Whether the Robins' exertions that night takes something out of them on Saturday remains to be seen, but Barrow reckons his side may have to bide their time if they are to pick up their third away win of the season.

"Cheltenham have improved recently," he added.

"After getting off to a poorish start John Ward has got them going a bit.

"They play a 4-5-1 formation, even at home, so I think we may have to be patient.

We got a good result down there last year and it was the first time I had ever been to the club.

"They have a decent pitch with a bit of a slope and you have to make sure you take advantage of that.

"We acquitted ourselves well last year and if we do the same this time it will be great."

The manager also praised the youth team after their 2-1 FA Youth Cup victory over Wrexham on Monday evening.

"I'm delighted for them, it was a great performance with some good quality football played,"he said.

"It just shows there are a good crop of youngsters behind the ones currently in the reserves.

"It would be great for them to get to the third round when all the big clubs come in and get drawn against a top club."