Bradford City v Gillingham: Parkinson has plans to beat the deadline

The priority for Parkinson, whose side are seeking to make it three wins on the spin at home to Gillingham this afternoon, is a striker, with recent trialist former Wolves forward Sylvan Ebanks-Blake sidelined with injury and still working on his fitness.

Parkinson has contingency plans in place and is attempting to instigate some business ahead of the deadline.

He said: “Sylvan isn’t fit at the moment, he is still injured. He lives in the Midlands so he has been down at St George’s Park doing his rehab.

“There is another week before the loan window closes and we are working on a couple of things.

“The squad is looking okay at the moment. It is strong and we’ve got players back.

“But we are looking and if someone becomes available to add to what we have got, then we will try to do something.”

The game with the Gills, whose centre-back and former City loan signing John Egan makes his first return to Valley Parade after breakinng his leg in a horror incident against Plymouth two years ago, is the start of a run of four games out of the next five on home soil.

City also face Leyton Orient and Scunthorpe in the league and Dartford in the FA Cup.

Meanwhile, Parkinson is reading nothing into the wretched away form of the Gills, who have the worst away form in the division, having taken just two points from a possible 24 and being without a win and is expecting a scrap.

He added: “You look at how tight results are right across this division. You have to battle for every single point.”