City are today hoping to tie down young defenders Richard Eckersley and Rob Kiernan for another month.

Peter Taylor is keen to keep them both, especially after Steve Williams was knocked out of action again with a fresh hamstring injury.

Williams lasted just 20 minutes against Bury on Monday – only his second game back from his recent lay-off – and now faces four weeks on the sidelines.

Kiernan impressed after coming off the bench to replace him and Taylor wants to hang on to the Watford youngster.

He said: “I thought Rob did really well. That’s the best he has played and we’d be mad to let him go.”

City are also pushing Burnley to hang on to Eckersley, who has started the last six games and was another stand-out performer in the win over the Shakers.

Eckersley is needed to fill the void until regular right backs Simon Ramsden and Lewis Hunt are ready to return from their long-term absences.

But Taylor admitted he would have to “speak to the chairmen” about striker Jason Price, whose loan from Carlisle is also up. Taylor will have one more frontman to choose from now that Jake Speight has returned from his spell with Port Vale.

Successive victories have lifted spirits around Valley Parade and Taylor believes City are finally starting to live up to his expectations.

He added: “I’ve always said that we aren’t that far away. Anyone who saw the second half performance on Monday would understand why I’ve been saying it for so long because we showed some real quality.”