It's just like the old days for the granite-like centre-back, who didn't need asking twice when old Bury mentor Stan Ternent and ex-Shakers team-mate Ronnie Jepson got in touch about returning to Town – where he played from 1999 to 2001.

With the club close to his Rochdale home, it made the move even more heaven-sent, while if he needed any further reason to feel at home it arrived in the form of a Butler next to him in the heart of the back four.

Namely ex-Scunthorpe stopper Andy - and not Lucketti's former Bury defensive comrade Paul – the duo's rock-solid partnership proving the bedrock of the Shakers' promotion to Division Two in 1996/97.

Fast forward 11 years and it's a repeat mission for Lucketti and his new backline partner.

The 37-year-old said: "the gaffer keeps shouting 'Butts' and it's a bit confusing because I played with Paul for a number of years. But it's nice to be playing with a Butler again.

"Andy's a good player. We get on well and read one another well.

"It's going to take four or five games to settle down as a partnership, but it's a case of so far, so good."

On a reunion with Ternent and Town, Lucketti added: "It was perfect to come back here. Stan is my old manager and it's good to know people around the place. I couldn't wait to sign."

Town got back on track after Saturday's limp draw with Stockport with a 4-0 Carling Cup derby mauling of Bradford City – after turning up the heat in the second period.

Lucketti said: "The gaffer just wanted us to increase the tempo and make it one and two-touch.

"And I think that when Worthy (Jon Worthington) got the goal it settled us down. The goal came at just the right time.

"They were all good goals, but Robbie's (Williams) free-kick was fantastic and a goal to be proud of."

One defender heading out of Town is David Mirfin, who has joined Scunthorpe for an initial £150,000.

On his sale, Ternent said: "I was happy for Mirf to stay.

"But, at the end of the day, he's not going to figure if everybody is fit. I'm not going to pick him first.

"These are the difficult decisions that managers have to make. He's a cracking lad and has been here a long time and I wish him the very best of luck.

"The transfer fee is a reasonable figure."

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