NEW Shakers recruit Ian Kilford reckons he could be fit in time for the trip to Hull this weekend.

The midfielder, who joined Bury on a non-contract basis last week, is battling to bring his fitness levels up to scratch after a long hard summer.

Since being released by Wigan Athletic at the end of last season, Kilford has been forced to set his own training regime while struggling to find a new club.

But now he says the lack of match fitness, which kept him sidelined for Bury's first victory of the season against Swansea, will be eliminated by a string of reserve appearances this week.

"The manager has a couple of games lined up for me because I haven't played a game since the end of last season," he said.

"If I come through those then I should be available for this weekend. I haven't got any niggling injuries and I feel quite good."

The cash-flow problems caused by the ITV Digital crisis have made it tougher than ever for Kilford to secure a full-time contract at another league club.

And he admits he was stuck in the football wilderness until a chance meeting with former Latics boss Graham Barrow - now assistant to Andy Preece at Bury.

"There have been a few moves that were on and then off but nothing serious," he said.

"Then I bumped into Graham one day at the driving range and he said that I could come and do a bit of training with Bury.

"I was just looking to get myself fit and get back playing a bit of football, so we agreed that I sign on a non-contract basis so I could get myself fit and help the lads out. It's a deal that suits everybody.

"I have only seen Bury play one match but I can tell from that and from training sessions that there are some very good players here and they have the lads up front to get them on the scoresheet."

One of the stars of the Swansea triumph was fellow new boy Terry Dunfield, whose vision and pinpoint passing from centre field should be complemented perfectly by Kilford's box-to-box endeavour in the Bury 'engine room.'

And fans will be pleased to hear that, despite his impressive show, there is plenty left in Dunfield's locker for the rest of his month's loan from Manchester City.

"I can definitely play better, I was a bit tired towards the end but the chemistry in the team was good," he said.

"My aim is still to play for the first team at Man City but we'll see how it goes. It's an indescribable feeling playing first team football.

"The manager (Kevin Keegan) told me that City would have people watching me and we will assess whether I stay longer at the end of the month."