BURY could resemble the centre of Calcutta on market day on Wednesday week when Halifax Reserves come to town.

Not the most attractive of fixtures, I grant you - but gracing the Gigg Lane turf could be one Baichung Bhutia, who is set to become the first Indian-born footballer to play professionally in this country.

Bhutia has received his work permit and is expected in Bury early next week, if not sooner.

The Shakers plan to unveil him to the world's media next Thursday and while Shakers boss Neil Warnock insists it will be a month before Bhutia makes his first team debut, he is likely to get a reserve team outing sooner rather than later.

First team football - and place on the bench for the home games against either Cardiff (Sat Oct 2) or Notts County (Sat Oct 9) is not out of the question - may also come quickly after that if Paul Barnes does not maintain his progress following his recent hamstring injury.

The signs are looking better for Barnes after his ten-minute spell against Wycombe and a batch of goals for the reserves.

Andy Preece too got a welcome boost with a goal and assist against Wycombe after his back and knee problems, but there are question marks still about both players regarding long-term match fitness. That means Bhutia's name is still right in the frame to partner Ian Lawson as soon as he Warnock is satisfied with his ability to cope with the English game fitness-wise.

The 22-year-old Indian captain has scored 25 goals in 40 games for his country and while the Football League is a big step up for him, he certainly looked sharp enough in the footage shown of him on a recent BBC News bulletin.

Bury chairman Terry Robinson confirmed that the club had received Bhutia's work permit.

The club have forwarded it to the player in India. He is expected to make the journey from his home state in Sikkin, close to the Himalayas, within the next few days.

On arrival at Gigg Lane he will begin his settling-in period and commence his training programme.

Robinson said: "I'm delighted things are moving forward now. We sent the permit out to India on Tuesday and he could be here sometime next week."

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