BURY'S pre-season preparations have received a massive knock with the news that Danny Swailes will miss the big kick-off.

The dominant central defender has had a scan on a niggling thigh injury which has hampered him in training since returning from the summer break.

Unfortunately the prognosis was a torn knee muscle which is likely to keep him out of action for four weeks.

It's a real sickener for the player as well as manager Graham Barrow who was looking to lay the foundations of a solid defence before the season starts in earnest against Yeovil on August 7.

"It's a big blow to lose Danny so early in the season," said Barrow.

"He was one of the three lads we were looking to build our defence around.

"I suppose Jon Cartledge, Colin Woodthorpe or Brian Barry-Murphy could play left side of central defence if they had to.

"But it shows just how thin our squad is and every player should realise that they will almost certainly get at chance to show what they can do.

"We may even have to look around for another defender, I don't know yet. But then we could do with another couple of lads in midfield and up front."