Lee Novak won't be ready for Bradford City's fixture with Carlisle United

The 32-year-old has missed the last 10 games with a calf injury and manager Stuart McCall had initially hoped the forward would be fit to come off the bench against Carlisle this weekend.

Novak returned to training on Thursday but with no midweek fixture next week, McCall would rather give the striker a full week of training before bringing him back into the side.

"It is probably too much of a gamble," admitted the Bantams manager.

"He has been out for a number of weeks and has not done a full week of training. As much as we dearly need him; even in his training session on Thursday, he was quality.

"He leads the line well and he looks after the ball, and he can finish.

"The selfish part of me wants him on the bench but without a Tuesday game next week, it gives him a week where he can train fully."

Even though Novak has missed the last 10 outings, he is due to return from injury ahead of schedule.

McCall added: "He is ready to go and he is ahead of what his initial scan result said.

"He is a few weeks ahead of what the scan reported but we have got to stay mindful."

McCall had hoped to welcome Gareth Evans back into the side on Saturday but the Bantams chief expects to have the same players available from the squad that lost 2-1 to Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night.

The City boss did have to substitute Bryce Hosannah and Callum Cooke in the second half as a precaution but both players should be able to take part in the full 90 minutes on Saturday, if required.

"It will be the same squad we had the other night," he added.

"We only had seven training on Thursday, we have got to be careful because we can't take any more knocks. That is what it is like at the minute.

"There are no more injuries from Cheltenham, which is a positive but nobody is returning as of yet, unfortunately."

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