Salford City v Bradford City - Stuart McCall happy to let science lead the way

The Bantams have had the rare luxury of a midweek off ahead of today’s League Two trip to Salford City.

But they are only due to have one more this year – and that only because they were knocked out of their Football League Trophy at the group stage. Coronavirus outbreaks, never mind the weather, could change that, storing up problems in 2021.

City are due to play 28 games in all competitions in the final 17 weeks of the year, something manager McCall will have to continue bearing in mind as he selects his teams in the coming weeks.

“We’ve just got to manage them the best we can and make sure they are ready whenever called upon,” he commented.

“I’ve said to the players, that’s what a squad is about.

“You obviously need a bit of luck with everything that’s going on at the minute. Some teams have been decimated with Covid and then missed three games.

“You’ve got to be mindful of the players. As much as we want to keep them on the full 90 (minutes), we’ve got to go by the science as well.

“There will be some decisions which people will think, ‘I can’t believe they’ve done that,’ there will be some I’ll take that I probably don’t want to but for the benefit of the player and the longer term, you’ve got to do it.”

Gareth Evans, Zeli Ismael, Bryce Hosannah and Kurtis Guthrie have taken advantage of the extra time off to increase McCall’s options today but Callum Clarke picked up a tight calf and Billy Clarke a hamstring strain at home to Exeter City that put their involvement in doubt.

The extra time means there has actually been some opportunity for more in-depth tactical work too.

“It has been great to have a full week to ourselves,” said assistant manager Kenny Black. “We have benefited a lot, after a run of busy games. 

“We can take our foot off the pedal a little bit with certain players and their workload – before we work towards another busy run of fixtures.

“It enables you to spend a lot more time with tactics and analysis, both looking forward and backwards.”

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