JON Newby couldn't be more delighted to be back at Gigg Lane writes Phil Thorp

The 25-year-old former Liverpool striker has had a torrid 12 months at Huddersfield Town after leaving the Shakers last summer.

But after signing a new two-year deal on Monday he can't wait for the forthcoming campaign to get up and running.

In two-and-a-half years Newby scored 24 goals in 122 appearances for the Shakers after arriving from Anfield, initially on loan.

He soon became a firm favourite with the Gigg Lane fans but was sacrificed in a cost-cutting purge at the end of last season.

The decision to let him go - indeed not even offer him a contract - was a big disappointment to the Warrington-born player who has made no secret of the fact that he is a big Bury fan.

But 12 months down the line he's about to renew his love affair with the Shakers and judging by the number of 'Welcome back Jon' messages on the official website's messageboard the Gigg faithful are keen to reciprocate.

"I'm delighted to be back," he said.

"It was well known that I didn't want to leave last year but things had to change at the club and I wasn't offered a contract, but that's all water under the bridge and I'm just looking forward to enjoying my football again."

Huddersfield boss Peter Jackson was quick to swoop for Newby once he heard the player was up for grabs, offering him a two-year deal.

But things turned sour as the season went on and he wasn't involved in any of the Terriers' play-off promotion charge, eventually going out on loan to struggling York City.

"To be fair it started well for me at Huddersfield," he added.

"I scored a lot of goals in pre-season and was flying but after that things went downhill quickly.

"I found myself out of the team a month into the campaign then I was playing with a bad knee injury for about four or five weeks.

"It turned out I had ruptured part of my cruciate ligament, a serious injury that kept me out for about three-and-a-half months.

"When I came back I went to York but it was difficult in a struggling team but I got wind quite early that Graham (Barrow) was interested in bringing me back.

"As soon as the season ended I couldn't wait to get things sorted with Huddersfield, negotiate my way out of the contract with them and come back.

"It was a mutual thing, they didn't want me and I didn't want to be there."

A number of other clubs were keen to secure the signature of Newby but as far as he was concerned there was only one team he contemplated joining.

While injured last season he was regularly seen in the South Stand with his fiancee Wendy and her family - all keen Shakers supporters.

"They are all big fans and I came to a few games with my future father-in-law.

"It was good to watch the lads from the point of view of a supporter but hopefully now I can get in as many games as I did last time I was here and we can be successful."

"I've heard a lot of good things about Kelham O'Hanlon, he sounds like a good coach, and I'm looking forward to working with him.

"I know there's a different manager in charge from the last time I was here but I know Graham from when he was coaching and always got on great with him.

"If pre-season started tomorrow it wouldn't be too soon for me. I just want to get playing again and I can't wait for the season to start on August 7."

As for Barrow he couldn't be more pleased at getting Newby back and believes his inactivity last season could work in the Shakers' favour.

"Jon is real quality and it's a great capture for us," he said.

"He was one of two or three players who really stood out to me when I first came to the club.

"I'm surprised he didn't fit in at Huddersfield but obviously Peter Jackson saw something in him that didn't suit their style of play.

"But we could really benefit from the quiet year he had last season."

Barrow also reckons that supporters didn't see the best of Newby towards the end of his last spell at the club.

There was a lot of responsibility on his shoulders going into the play-offs at the end of the 2002-2003 campaign and the manager believed he may have needed a break.

"I thought Jon was close to being burned out that year and I think he should have been rested," he added.

"Andy Preece was going to leave him out of the Wrexham game before the play-offs but Jon argued to play and won.

"Looking back I think he really did need to recharge his batteries.

"But that's what he is like, he gives you everything he's got, on the pitch and in training.

"He's a good player, a great lad and I'm more than delighted to have him back."