Bradford City's Callum Cooke set for four to six weeks out as Bryce Hosannah and Reece Staunton's injuries continue to frustrate

Meanwhile joint manager Conor Sellars has admitted the Bantams are struggling to get to the bottom of the hamstring injuries suffered by young defenders Bryce Hosannah and Reece Satunton.

Cooke missed the defeats to Newport County and Carlisle United with the problem, and is expected to be out for a further four to six weeks.

The latter end of that scale would have Cooke aiming to be back for the penultimate weekend of the regular League Two season, when the Bantams host Scunthorpe United. They still have hopes of making the play-offs, but the first consecutive defeats of Sellars and Mark Trueman's reign have seen them recede slightly.

“We had some disappointing news on Callum this week after the scan,” revealed Sellars. “He's injured a hip muscle and is going to be about for four to six weeks.

“He's been a pivotal part of this squad lately.

“Nobody likes to be injured and Cookey has found himself in good form that he wanted to continue.

“But we have a good squad and people have to come in and make an impact.”

Both Hosannah, on loan from Leeds United, and Staunton, who signed an improved contract this season, are yet to figure under the new management duo having picked up hamstring injuries in early November. It had been expected both would be back by now.

“We've been given timescales but they both keep having little setbacks which keep them out for another week or so,” said Sellars.

“It's so important with those types of injuries that you prevent them happening again because they can be quite detrimental to their development as young players. Their safety and welfare is paramount in our thoughts so we're just going to make sure when they come back they're fully fit and ready but I'm not going to lie, they have had some little setbacks along the way.”

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