GARY Bowyer is braced to make his biggest selection call with skipper James Vaughan at Morecambe tomorrow.

The City striker is free to return in a team coming off their best performance of the season.

Bowyer is giving nothing away on his plans but admitted it will be a tough decision whether to bring Vaughan straight back.

“He wasn’t very happy last week because he was suspended and wanted to play football,” said the City boss.

“I would imagine he’s been like that throughout his career (when not in involved).

“The fact that the team won last week as well, he’s got to prove to us that he deserves to be back in. It will be interesting.

“We want the culture and environment where the lads who come in are hungry for it and perform to a level where they say, ‘you can’t drop me’.

“That’s not me saying that but them by their actual performances. That’s something we push and encourage.

“It’s real healthy when you’ve got competition and the whole group know that no one’s safe and guaranteed a place in the team.”

City raised the bar with their display in the win over Swindon which has lifted them within three points of the top of League Two.

But as they face the struggling Shrimps, Bowyer has rammed home the message that they have only just started.

He added: “The society we live in now wants it all done in 12 games. That’s never going to happen.

“The teams above us at the moment will say the same thing. It’s a work in progress.

“It’s about building relationships. Every day is a learning day.

“We did something with the players in training yesterday and I stood back for the last five minutes and saw something different I’d not seen from one of them.

“I walked over and we had a little chat and it was brilliant.

“You can never be satisfied. Don’t settle for what you’ve got now.

“We’ve been saying that to them all week. Don’t settle for a pat on the back because they won the last game.

“Go and win on the road. We’ve got 1,600 fans there, it’s a sell-out, so give them something to be proud of.”

Paudie O’Connor has overcome the dead “glute” that forced him off in the last game and was able to train yesterday. But understudy Tyler French is out with a knock.

Bowyer added: “I think the team are starting to grow. I can see a lot of belief but they’ve got to keep backing that up.

“There are real positive signs there for us but we’re not unaware of the challenge that lies ahead this weekend.”