The 2011–12 season saw Picken returning to the first team from injury and making his first appearance for the club since April, in a 1–1 draw against Huddersfield Town in the opening game of the season on 6 August 2011. He managed to regain his first team place and was awarded a contract, which would keep him until 2014. Picken continued to do so, as the season progressed until being dropped from the first team in mid-March, due to a mistake against Carlisle United that saw Bury lost 4–1. Despite this, Picken made thirty–seven appearances for the club in the 2011–12 season.