Bradford City set to welcome back Billy Clarke

The frontman has been sidelined for the past three weeks with a hamstring strain, but is now in the frame to return for tomorrow’s key test with the Shrimpers, another League One side with play-off aspirations like the Bantams.

On the availability once again of Clarke, Parkinson said: “We have got Billy Clarke back available, which is a huge boost for us.

“He was top-scorer for us last year and at this time of the year last year, he pushed on and had a tremendous finish and I am expecting him to do that again.

“He had a minor hamstring strain, but has trained in the last three or four days and is right back in contention.”

The game against Southend is the first of a run of five games in the next seven on home soil for the Bantams.

Victory against Southend, coupled with a defeat for sixth-placed Millwall against Peterborough, could put Bradford within three points of the play-off positions.