Injury-plagued Bradford City take one step forward, two steps back

STUART McCall feels that no other side in League Two has faced the same “rotten luck” as Bradford City on the injury front and admits that managing players’ workloads is proving extremely challenging.
By Ben McKenna
Published 3rd Dec 2020, 06:00 BST
Gareth Evans: Could return Saturday to provide a much-needed boost to Bradford. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)Gareth Evans: Could return Saturday to provide a much-needed boost to Bradford. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)
Gareth Evans: Could return Saturday to provide a much-needed boost to Bradford. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)

The Bantams were without Billy Clarke as they lost to Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night, adding to recent injuries sustained by Reece Staunton and Zeli Ismael.

Bradford have been without a number of key players during what has been a torrid start to the season but McCall hopes his squad will come out the other side of the crisis a better team.

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“It is massively challenging, I have got to be honest,” said McCall.

“I was up on Monday night thinking of ways we could play against Cheltenham, not to just sit in and defend the box but to try and carry a threat.

“You go around the lads on a Saturday and then you get a text on Sunday night saying three players are struggling and then they come in on Monday and they are out of the team.

“It is really challenging. It is one that once we come out the other side, it will be rewarding in the end. It is hard to balance everything. I don’t think any club in the league has had the rotten run of luck that we have had with injuries.

“We get one or two back and then lose a few.”

Stuart McCall, Bradford City manager (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)Stuart McCall, Bradford City manager (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)
Stuart McCall, Bradford City manager (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)
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Bradford could be bolstered by the returns of Lee Novak and Gareth Evans this weekend as they welcome Carlisle United to Valley Parade.

He added: “I would like to think Evo [Evans] would be possible for Saturday. Novak is doing everything he can to be involved as soon as possible.”

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Related topics:Lee NovakLeague TwoBradfordCheltenham Town

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