Bury v Bradford City - Luckless Steven Davies given reasons to be cheerful over latest injury woe

The Liverpool-born forward has suffered after switching to Valley Parade last summer and endured more injury woe in Saturday’s game at former club Blackpool after injuring his knee. Davies was sidelined for almost three months earlier this term with knee ligament damage, having also picked up an injury in pre-season in a luckless sequence.

Parkinson, whose side visit former club Bury today – seeking a spot of revenge after the Shakers knocked them out of the FA Cup on penalties in a third-round replay – said: “It’s a lot more positive. He’s had a scan and his cruciate is intact. He’s seen the specialist Steve Bollen, who is happy with it. It’s just the rehab now and we expect him back sooner rather than later.

“Because Steve snapped his cruciate ligament in the past, when he jarred his knee slightly he was fearing the worst. But it’s good for him that it’s not too bad.”

Reece Burke and Wes Thomas are in contention to feature for City, seeking to put Tuesday night’s surprise home loss to Colchester United firmly behind them.

Parkinson said: “We have already played Bury three times this season and each occasion has been extremely tight and hard-fought.

“We need to go there after Tuesday’s result and put in the sort of performance that we produced at Blackpool last weekend.

“We have looked at Tuesday night again and the ways we need to do better going forward.

“We must play with a better structure and shape. We need to get back to what we’ve been doing well and stick with it from now until the end of the season.

“It is important that we go through the reasons why we lost but we also have to make sure this defeat doesn’t fester too long.”

Last six games: Bury LWWDLW; Bradford LWWDWL.

Referee: D Webb (Co.Durham).

Last time: Bury 0 Bradford City 0; January 9, 2016; FA Cup