Bantams happy with fitness of new man Bates

PHIL PARKINSON insists there are no fitness worries over new signing Matthew Bates.
Matthew BatesMatthew Bates
Matthew Bates

The 26-year-old defender, a free agent after being released by Bristol City last summer, has joined the Bantams on an initial three-month deal.

Bradford manager Parkinson was persuaded that he needed to recruit a centre-half when 
Andrew Davies, a former team-mate of Bates at Middlesbrough, was ruled out for three to four months with a knee injury.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bates’s own career has been blighted by five separate cruciate ligament injuries but Parkinson believes the new arrival, who was on the bench in Sunday’s defeat to Tranmere Rovers, can make a big impact at Valley Parade.

The City manager said: “With Andrew having been lost, we brought Matthew in. He can play centre-back, while he also gives us cover in midfield and at full-back.

“I feel that through this period coming up that we will need to be as strong as we possibly can. Matthew is a good player and brings good experience to the camp.”

Asked about Bates’s previous injury problems, Parkinson replied: “We hope all that is behind him, He has been training for six weeks at Sheffield Wednesday. They weren’t in a position to offer him a contract.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I have seen Matt play many times and hopefully we can get him back to somewhere near where we all know he can play.”

Bates was released by Boro around 18 months ago after coming through the ranks at the Riverside. After being released by Bristol City following their relegation in May, he was invited to train with Hartlepool United during the summer by manager Colin Cooper, once Peter Jackson’s assistant at Valley Parade.

However, the Yarm-based defender was keen to play higher than League Two and is now looking to make a big impact.

Whether that will involve a start in Bradford’s next match on Saturday at Crawley Town remains to be seen but Rory McArdle will be back from international duty and, barring injury, certain to return to the XI.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That will leave Luke Oliver, Bates and Carl McHugh – the latter having flown back to Yorkshire from international duty to sit on the bench against Tranmere – fighting it out to partner McArdle as Nathan Doyle returns to his preferred role in central midfield.

Parkinson felt the back four should have dealt better with the long ball and flick-on that led to Ryan Lowe’s winner on Sunday.

He said: “It is a basic thing which we didn’t deal with and let a very good goalscorer get free in our penalty box. But I thought the lads were great in the second half and did everything we could to get something out of the game.”

Related topics: