Bradford City manager Gary Bowyer has outlined that his side are due to have as many as four players return to the squad soon after injuries.

Gary Bowyer has confirmed that quartet Shay McCartan, Matty Palmer, Jake Reeves and Jordan Gibson have all stepped up their recovery efforts as they look to get back in the squad for the coming weeks.

Northern Ireland international Shay McCartan is yet to start a league game for the Bantams this season and hasn’t played in the league since the victory over Crawley which was over a month ago.

Having signed on-loan from League One Rotherham, Matty Palmer has been an important part of the Bradford midfield, playing in every single league game until the end of September when they drew with Scunthorpe, to which he hasn’t played since.

When speaking to the club’s official site, Bowyer gave this update on how the players are recovering: "We are looking good again, now, and are close to welcoming back quite a few of the lads. Shay McCartan and Matty Palmer joined back in - this week - and Jake Reeves and Jordan Gibson played in an organised friendly, on Tuesday."

The other two players nearing a full recovery are Jake Reeves and Jordan Gibson, Reeves had recently featured in Bradford’s EFL Trophy fixture against Rochdale and registered an assist, following a lengthy injury layoff.

Gibson hasn’t played a minute of league football since August but looks close to making his long-awaited return to Bowyer’s side.

The Verdict

It is yet to be seen whether these players will be available for the weekend but their recovery updates are certainly positive.

Bradford have had to constantly change their midfield and attack this season as they battle to overcome injury problems to different players but with the fixture list getting more congested in the build-up to Christmas, Bowyer will be pleased to see four first-team players nearing a return.