While Smith now plies his trade down the road at Old Trafford, fair-haired 18-year-old Irishman Keogh is on a month's loan with the Shakers, and if the display at Scunthorpe is anything to go by he's going to be a big hit with the Gigg Lane supporters.

On his debut the talented striker scored a fine goal for his adopted club, and although he ended on the losing side he shone like a beacon throughout the 90 minutes with his ability and workmanlike attitude.

So much so that leading scorer Dave Nugent's transfer to Preston North End last week suddenly doesnt seem quite as catastrophic as it might have done.

Keogh has already dipped his toe into the cut and thrust of League Two football with a spell, ironically, at Scunthorpe.

He impressed everyone connected with the Glanford Park side during his three months with them, so much so that they were keen to keep him there.

Local rivals Rochdale and Phil Parkinson's Colchester United are just two of the teams who have also made overtures to take Keogh on loan this season.

However, the Gigg Lane connection came to the fore when Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell and his assistant Sam Ellis, who have both had spells as assistant manager and manager at Bury, advised him to join Graham Barrows men.

It's a move he's more than happy to make.

"The gaffer (Blackwell) thought it would be a good experience for me to come to Bury and as I'm looking to get into his plans I thought I'd take the opportunity," he explained.

"Bury like to pass the ball and they didn't look like a side that hadn't won for eight games.

"The league table doesn't do them justice, they should be challenging for the play-offs on that performance.

"Scunthorpe are a good team at home but I thought we were unlucky on the day, it was disappointing and hopefully well get it right this weekend."

Keogh has been on international duty this week with the Republic of Ireland Under-19 squad in Italy and he teamed up again with his new colleagues in training on Thursday.

For his first game in a Bury shirt he linked up well with an unfamiliar strike-force that saw both he and Jon Newby playing off Chris Porter.

It was a mobile combination that caused the Iron plenty of trouble in the first half until Porter had to limp off the field with a knee injury.

We were picking up the ball in the space between the midfield and defence and they struggled to cope with it, he said.

It was a blow when Chris went off as he was holding the ball up well and getting some good flick-ons, we missed his height after that.

Despite losing his strike-partner, Keogh wasnt to be denied a goal when he raced clear of the home defence and slid the ball under Scunthorpe keeper Paul Musselwhite.

It was a good ball over the top and for once Cliff Byrne (a fellow Dubliner) wasnt dragging me about, he grinned.

The keeper came out and made my mind up what to do, I had a little look up and it was easy from there.

If things work out over the next few weeks Keogh, and his temporary boss Barrow, havent ruled out an extended stay, something that should really whet the appetite of the careworn Bury faithful.

Because make no mistake, should Saturdays display be the shape of things to come from him, goals and victories will soon be back on the agenda.